> Falconers and the Embers of Nations
>  by MadDonut
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Intro
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was a dark night. Snow covered every inch of the land and trees as a bandaged pegasus slowly stumbled through a clearing only to find herself confronted with a fire. She had been seeking it for it was cold and she was flightless. Slowly she peered around looking for that who tended the fire and she found a snow covered figure lying still, heavily layered in armor leaving no soft essence of skin exposed. Even his tail had mail woven through and through. “If you’ve come seeking rest you may have it,” said an old voice from within the armor itself. “Please I ask, do mind your manners. I would hate to have to kill you.” When she sat herself down he raised his head causing some of the powder to fall to the ground from his almost snow buried bodie. Quietly he said, “I see. You come from the capital. Come to escape those who descend from Istudious?” His voice was old, gravelly even, but not weary for this stallion still had plenty of life held within him. “You're not one for speaking it seems. I don't mind, no need to worry. The company is all that I seek. You see it gets a little lonely being unjustified. A drifter floating about life from one place to another seeking… a purpose. Only when that purpose is fulfilled it's back to the same repetitive cycle.
“This wasn’t always my life you see. I remember the days during the end of the magic era. Yes I remember the battle between Noriphmy and Aminus, the black dragon. Contrary to popular belief the battle was not three days but mere moments that seemed to last an eternity. Two nations destroyed and one last nation saved by our mysterious figure, Noriphmy. The very name we endowed this nation with. I was a colt then but those who say he was of three were wrong. I was there. He was an earth pony like I, yet he wielded magic unlike any other. With a haisty victory he and the dragon disappeared. Yet defeat doesn’t always mean death. That was apparent not to long ago.
“However an all powerful dragon was and is still, mortal, and mortals make mistakes they… miss things. Noriphmy may have been spared but Istudious was ravaged, but yet it still lived. Decades, no, centuries we believed they were dead but we were wrong. Now here they are. An invasive race. Turning the stallions of nobility into geldings and monstrously planting their seeds within the soil of our nation. Selectively I do say. Do we deserve it? It would be hypocritical of me to call them, monsters.
“I was in my prime during the golden age of banditry. I wasn’t a bandit but I was very briefly a Falconer. You may have heard of him. Kojin was his name when I met him, but he was a stallion of many names. Rendetic, Bawl, Havel. The very one who briefly led this nation. Story of his origin was he killed every bandit that over took his village as a colt. He was the first to perfect movement in combat through hunting, rabbits, of all things. Falconers call them hunting styles and they mimic the decisive nature of those rodents with its indecisive leaps and bounds.
“But after he was a Falconer he started a new group. One that I was apart of. We developed a different fighting style and with it we rid the nation of all its bandits, earth, pegasus and unicorn alike. We fought like beast but not just any beast, we fought like the greater beast through strenuous exercise. No pony need be a unicorn to be deadly while under our oath. Often times we killed unicorns and stripped them of their catalyst as trophies after battle. We experimented with those who we’ve captured trying to unlock the secrets held within their blood. We did horrible things and often times we justified it by them being bandits and evil. A unicorn abusing his magic to do unjust things in the name of power was by nature evil.
“That didn’t stop the capital from putting an end to us. Peacefully that is. We still had honor in our practices and we did it to serve Noriphmy. Our nation came first. After that Havel, his name at the time, went back to being a Falconer like many others, but me… I became unjustified, a drifter with no purpose. I never hurt the innocent I only did what was right without the bounds of any rules or oath. Just me myself. I took care of villages and helped a few teams but the loneliness can be a little overbearing and being purposeless only adds to the burden.
“Now however I have a purpose more than ever. I revert to beliefs that our nation holds, ‘in ashes you find embers. Embers to rekindle the fire that we hold within us. And like our fire our nation will spread. Never to be put out or smothered, always to once again to spring up from the ashes reborn.’ Fire being the glory of our nation, ashes as destruction, embers being the determination and the strength of the ponies or Noriphmy.
“Days ago my embers have dimmed at seeing the hopelessness of our nation and it has driven me to the lands of Carridian like you yourself. I was going to seek solitude and escape from this madness but I was driven back to Noriphmy not to long ago. I had a dream and in this dream I stood against Istudious in the streets of the capital and when I awoke I knew. Even if it is in vain I am to die at the sting of a blade and in bloody bloody glory in presence of Noriphmy. An honorable death in a life filled with honorless endeavors.
“But you, I hope you find what you're looking for out in the lands of Carridian unlike I. Like me your embers have dimmed but hopefully with the new found strength of mine yours have brighten a little at least. Come the morning I will be leaving as you will too. I would hate to be known as a stranger so you may know me as Vaati Lavidya. Although like Kojin I had many names but you can trust that it is my first. As for you, I can respect your vow of silence. There is no need to speak. Were on good terms and again I hope I’ve ignited something within you.”
The mare had been listening while she laid down staring deep into the fire with her muzzle laid between her concealed, carefully wrapped fore hoofs. Vaati laid his head back where it was previously engraven in the snow and together they laid there. For the moment there was no Noriphmy nor Istudious. Not a warrior, monster, beast or conflict. Just them, two strangers, and this peaceful moment of isolation.



The room was dark save it for the light that leaked in from the rusted rafters above. There were four ponies; two earth, one pegasi, and one unicorn that to the others, was a stranger. He sat in the middle, but not by himself as he was partnered with a device that suited him down with metal bars rendering him immobile. Around his head was a helmet looking device if you could call it that for it left almost no protection with bars running along the side of his head with a handle protruding forward were the mouth was. He was unable to move and he frantically began looking around the darkened room yielding few visual results.
“I see you’ve finally woken up,” said one of the three figures. The unicorn tried to speak but he found his voice was muffled and so he began to panic. “Ease, ease. All we want is your cooperation. I’m sure you know why you're here so let us get started.” As the unicorn watched through the corner of his eyes unsteadily breathing, an earth pony lightly suited in armor with a streamlined helmet that completely hid his face stepped forward into clear view. His armor was made of metal but lined with leather allowing it to bear exquisite designs of art. Blood stained art. One unusual thing about this particular earth pony was his tail was long and even it had armor weaved within it. It was common practice to keep tails trimmed short as they could be a hazard to the host amidst the glory of the battlefield. In the unicorns panic he found that he was beginning to have a hard time breathing as his mouth was gagged. The earth pony took noticed and said, “Here allow me.” He pushed on his rounded chest piece button and as a result his gauntlets he wore on each hoof shot out a blade, only to his left fore hoof, equal on both sides and with it he sliced away the cloth that covered his mouth.
The unicorn quickly spat out the cotton folds of strong tissue and said, “Where am I?”
The earth pony retracted the blades through the same means and answered, “depending on how you behave, your final destination? Or perhaps a simple stopping point. It doesn't have to be this way you see. We just want some answers. You’ll know me as Mulard Adbawl. It's a pleasure to meet you, even under such substances. Now we need answers and we need them now.”
“I would rather see myself dead,” he spat on the ground just barely missing the hide of Mulard.
Looking up in anger he said, “I can see to that your wish is granted.” Instantly he pushed on the handle that was attached to the visor of the unicorn forcing his head leftwards accompanied with the sounds of clicking as it did so. “Let's start with your name. I would hate remain strangers.”
Gasping at the sudden abuse as his head was turned locking into place unable to look back. “What is this? Let me go!” He cried in panic.
Again Mulard pushed the handle letting it click and lock into place except this time only a few degrees counter clockwise. “Your name!”
“Yunagawl,” he hastily answered.
“Now,” he said as he began to circle the contraption. “Where are your hideouts. Where you and your bandits retreat to. I've grown tired of their presence and it's time for them to be rid of for good.”
“I-I don't know,” He answered, “we don’t-NAH!!!” Mulard pushed again and Yunagawls head turned even more counterclockwise locking into place in a terribly uncomfortable angle.
“Interesting isn’t it?” Mulard said as he patted the vice around Yunagawls head. “Gears are a wonderful piece of technology. Invented to aid earth ponies to hunt monsters during the great rising. It's what enables these blades you see here,” he emphasised by flashing a blade that protruded from his gauntlets that he wore on his fore hoofs. “It's what makes me so effective on the battlefield however even when I perform exceptionally in combat it wasn’t first without the aid of,” he retracted the blade. “A unicorn.” He moved in closer and said, “You see I have the capability of ripping that catalyst you have there right, off, of, your, skull. Without the assistance of some unicorn. I'm sure you’ve heard the shouts of the former but I have no time for torture so again where are they?”
“Its-its the same answer I swear I just MEGH!!! AH!“ There were two clicks this time and his neck really began to strain.
“There's only so much you can take isn't there,” he said tilting his head. “The record holds out at a hundred and ten degrees in any given direction. You past ninety already however my wager is the record will still hold regardless.”
“I swear again I swear!!!” he pleaded.
One click, “You will tell me right now. Your group has killed four falconers and caused a fifth in collateral.”
“None of it was my doing. My hoofs are clean.”
“No,” he said calmly. “Far from clean. You unicorns; always thinking you're entitled to something greater, something more. Always boasting your magic and flaunting it on the battlefield. Made much worse against innocent defenceless villagers. Manny earth pony. Manny pegasi. Now I will ask once more…” He rested a hoof on the device.
“They retreated into the mountains,” he said franticly. “Further past into Carridain.”
“Were,” he said looking him straight in the eyes. Yunigawl only gave him a confused look with eyes darting back and forth looking for an answer. It wasn’t his fault, Carridain was poorly mapped and not all locations had names however Mulard felt Yunigawl still knew. “You see Yunigawl,” he began as he patted the lever attached to the vice threatening to push it further. “I know the king and I can have you arranged to be destroyed and forgotten from this world. No loved ones, no family, no friends.” His voice suddenly became much more intense. “If you don't tell me where your bandit party retreated to I will feed you dead, decaying corpse to the champions at the Magnolive Estoc where they will devour you quickly and violently ripping, tearing you apart till your none but unrecognizable and forgotten.”
Yunigawls already trembling body became even worse at Mulards intensity. “I… They retreated to the mountains of Carridian. There's nothing more, there out there.”
“General location. Landmarks, pathways, beacons. Tell me.” Two more clicks for good measure.
“I don't know I made the journey once,” he cried.
Mulard shook his head and said, “Then I have no use for you.”
“Wait,” Yunigawl shouted just as Mulard place his hoof on the lever one last time. Mulard gave him his full attention and through gasp he said, “I-I can show you the way. I promise I know how to get there.”
“Why should I trust you especially after you just betrayed your own kin? One back is the same as any other.”
“It's not the same,” he whispered. “I'm a beast, I swear.” Mulard looked to his two companions silently watching. “I swear, I swear,” Yunigawl gasped.
Mulard leaned his head forward and said, “for only this once will I trust you. Afterwards you'll be handed to the keepers at Safeguard.” Mulard then turned away and headed for the doorway with a lever position just next to it. Mulard pushed it forward and Yunigawls head swiveled forward releasing him from its grip, spitting him to the ground. “Keep watch of him. I have a small army to assemble.” And with that he left Yunigawl in the company of the earth pony and pegasi both of whom were equipped to neutralize and with armor to protect.
Vaati raised his head and took stock of his surroundings. Still dark, fire still burning strange injured pegasus still slept. He let out a deep sigh at the memory of his dream. How tiring it all was protecting Noriphmy doing his duty whatever that may have been. He allowed himself to sit up in the snow and he set his gaze to the emptiness of the west were the sun would soon rise. He sat there and he began to think. Nothing more, he just allowed himself to be lost in thought letting time slip by.
He heard the sound of shifting snow and he turned his head to see the bandaged pegasus standing right next to him observing the same emptiness. “Ah hello stranger pegasus,” he said greeting her by her class. He felt exhausted not physically but mentally and spiritually. “I’ve been thinking; such a past time is dangerous, but still I have had intrusive thoughts.” He could now start to detect faint traces of sunlight coming from the horizon indicating it would soon be day. He continued, “again I've been thinking. The days are repetitive, the moments forgetful. What is it we do us Noriphmians? The miners mine, the loggers log and the farmers till the ground in a repetitive cycle that begins anew at the start of each year, each month and every day.
“You would think with our nation being in isolation that it would be something grand and with peace. Instead we, I, lived my life fighting… evil that seems to never be smothered, almost as if only existed to balance out good. We were the only nation, even though it may have been a lie we were the only nation so there should have been peace? What happened? What made us fight one another what drove handfuls of ponies to murder? It's just… exhausting.
“What am I, in this very moment here for? Such a question, my only answer was to march myself off to slaughter because then out of selfish desire would I feel… accomplished. It's tiring. Nothing more, just tiering.” He let out a deep tiresome sigh as the sun began ever so slightly to peak over the horizon as once again he began to think. “Why am I here? Is it strange to question your very existence? Surely if any being could ask why or wonder about the very world they live in it must be what it means to live. To be thinking…” He looked back to Noriphmy that laid just behind him, towards the distant lights that shown off in the distance. “Perhaps I am to die, but maybe just maybe I could rescue the prince from captivity.” He then spontaneously, albeit slowly stood up and began to gradually make his journey. “I appreciated your company, your very kind but here is where I de-” He was cut off as he noticed she was now following him as he made way. He stopped and asked, “why do you follow. Even after I’ve been so abhorrent.” She didn’t answer but instead came closer. Vaati didn’t know what to do, how could he say no to free will. She didn't refuse him of his self destructive desire. His final journey, last self given quest, would be one with great danger not that it hasn't before, but this time he didn’t expect victory. Only defeat. How lonely it would be. “Fine.”
   

> Chapter 1 Old friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


A few and a half months earlier


“Where are they?” Igneous said as he impatiently paced back and forth on the village street that led out of the outer village and into the the lands of Carridian. He wore armor specially fitted to him with his legs being covered with just a few plates woven together by mail. This insured he had enough mobility to run about and still remain quite agile and since it was made in the capital, this piece in particular had the emblem of flames etched into the center plate, whereas the armor itself contained small red accents all over to give the armor some extra flare as if it encapsulated a peace of fire.
“Patents Igneous, I'm sure they just got hung up in some sort of hunt,” calmly said Dramier as he sat patently down on a wooden crate that had been discarded in the middle of the street looking as if he was a sleep but really was anything but. He was an earth pony that had the standard equipment with two collapsible crossbows strung across his sides. They had wires going up to his head and were attached in various places to allow them to aim where he was looking and a one wire running up to both of his ears that were wrapped in leather and would allow him to fire with a swift flicking motion. He wore a chest piece and nothing else. It came with the crossbows as pushing the center plate in would allow them to spring up and deployed for use.
“We don't have time for hunts,” he said. “Theres greater things at stake right now. Curse my father for leaving me with such a burden. I’ve been slaving away for the past few months just to prepare for this.”
Dramier sighed and said, “Igneous you’ve done good.”
He scoffed, “Good won't be enough if it does not prevent war. War between a broken nation that he insisted stayed extinct in the public’s eyes. He’s a liar, he-he…”
“Igneous,” dramier said cutting him off before he could continue with his rant. “Now I didn’t know him for long but I could say that the choices he made was with the right intention. Even if it wasn’t the best decision to be had.”
“He nearly got us killed.”
“He saved you after nearly getting slane.”
“And then he ran off to slaughter just like I had.”
“He gave you the ember stone.”
“This,” he said as he lifted the red gem out of his bag that hung over his side. “What use is it if I lack the alchemy to wield it properly”
“Taff Igneous, Taff I say you stubborn boar,” Dramier said frustrated at his unwillingness to consider. “Forget Kohligain for all I care. You're the prince of Noriphmy and yet you still insist on being a Falconer. If all this is Kohligans fault then why are you still here. Go to the capital and inherit the throne. Why should maces father have to lead this nation?”
“He is fit for it. More so than I myself. I’m letting him lead this nation because he is doing a much better job that I can or ever will,” he said pointing to himself.
“This is because of Kara and Mace isn’t it?” Igneous silenced himself and turned away facing the forest that lay beyond the stone path of the village. “Igneous you need to get over your fear. Dettetcheny suffered the same but he didn’t let it overcome him. He still braved any mission as if it were his last.” As he finished there was the passing shadow of a pegasus that they both knew was Floritha returning. Dramier whispered, “Eyh here they come. Try not to mope about and carry on strong. For Noriphmy, your nation, if that’s the encouragement you're in need of.”
“That's my intention,” he said through his teeth.
The pegasus landed with her metal made forehooves loudly clicking on the ground. She came up next to Igneous and said, “there here Igneous. There just about to come around that corner.”
“Thanks Floritha,” he corrected himself
From further down the street rounded the corner three ponies one of each type wearing their classes armor and weapon sets. One unicorn Igneous remembered from working with her in a few hunts a couple years back and he greeted her saying, “Adridge.”
“Igneous,” she said with a friendly smile as she slowed to a stop. She was equipped with just one sword that lay slung across her back that was about the length of her body. It was curved and was one sided. The hilt however was longer than normal but at the end was one binding stone were as were the hilt met the blade there was another. This gave her much greater precision with her swings as she had two places to fucose her magic on while wielding it. 
She wore armor that covered her chest and most of her body with dark plates that overlapped one another with pointed ends giving her extra mobility but like Igneous she had no helm. Even with the impressive protection of her armor she still wore a cape of black monster hide that was strapped to her side at one corner and draped across her back the furthest corner. She had said she received from a stranger when she was just a young filly. Light, tough and uncuttable it was the perfect light defence. However how it got skinned in the first place was any ponies guess.
She was younger than Igneous himself and smaller than any other pony there and led two stallions that Igneous hadn't recognised from before. “I see you're outfitted with a new team,” he said looking over the earth pony and pegasus.
“Yes well the two mares quit. I personally thought it was about time. They can be… such a, burden, to be polite,” she said as she remembered how those two would always hit on Igneous but to no avail as he continually ignored it as if they were never even there to begin with. If it wasn’t for him the two hunts they were attending might not have been accomplished and two farming villages might have been destroyed.
“I would like to be introduced to your new team but were a bit hasty at the moment?” he said.
“Well by all means if we're in a hurry then we should be making way rather than talking,” . “A whole month of travel through the lands of Carridian I've been told.”
“And as to what purpose?” the earth pony asked.
“I will brief you when we make camp tonight,” Igneous said as he turned his attention to the forest. “After that we're going continuously throughout most days and nights.”
“I heard were going to Istudious,” said the pegasus a little doubtfully. “As to what purpose do we have going to some berin extinct nation.”
“I’ll save it for the briefing,” he answered.
“Then let's start our journey shall we,” she motioned for her team to begin letting them run past along with Dramier, and Floritha who took to the skies with the other unnamed pegasus. But before Igneous could began she stopped him and whispered, “I heard what happened out there manny months ago. Did you really find the Hexer fortress?”
“We shouldn’t talk now,” he said removing her hoof from him. “We got business that's far more important than some extinct race of greater magic wielding ponies.”
“What is it then?” she asked.
Refusing to look at her as he slowly began making way. He quietly answered, “The possible invasion of Noriphmy.”
> Chapter 2 Author Donnavitch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Igneouses and Adridges team had traveled through most of the day as promised and now they settled down in the midst of a decaying town that had long since been abandoned through reasons of outside threats and trade convenience. Adridge said she would ready the fire and Floritha Lindestic did what most pegasus do as a falconer and that was to scout and keep watch from any danger in the immediate area and when that was finished to meat back for the briefing about the mission they were prepared to undertake.
“It shouldn't be long,” Adridge said looking up into the sky as she sat at the doorway to the mostly stable building they had decided to quarter in. “I give it ten minutes max for a good thero sweep.”
“Hows about a mediocre job?” Rechon asked as he pressed his hoof against a sheet of glass that immediately shattered.
“Careful, ” Oxinum said as he laid down in a corner appearing to sleep. “Were trying to stay the night not turn it to rubble.”
“I’ll take the nights sky rather than this old building.”
“You can once we're done with the briefing,” Adridge said still continuing to gaze at the sky even though she lost track of both Lindestic and Floritha. She found that they got along rather pretty well as they flew across the sky earlier this day. She may have even heard the sounds of laughter as was expected from Lindestic when he found himself and others board. His hilarity didn’t come out of trying though it mostly came from casualness and the simplicity of the things he said or regarded. Such a thing cannot be explained only experienced. “Say,” Adridge said lowering her head to the entrance of the doorway as she spoke. “Where did Igneous run off too? How do I always lose sight of him,” she said shaking her head. Last time such a thing happened they ended up hiding with Igneous having to heal from inflicted wounds. Three marks across his face and six along his body with badly broken bones and deep cut scars that he had purged later on that year. His only explanation as to why was that he hadn't really savored the sight of scars, especially his own as he feared imitation.
“Igneous? He went on a walk,” Oxinum said with a sigh. “As to why i'm not sure, I myself don’t know Igneous too well unfortunately. Not unlike his former team.”
“What truly happened?” she asked. “The only thing I’ve heard were whispers and vaugality through word of mouth. Really all there was is one team left to the wilderness straighten for nothing in particular. Then weeks later returns barely even a team or two. Both broken were fragments of a third team lingered and killed itself off.”
Oxinum raised his head and said, “Did those mouths happen to be poets? Sounds rather corny” He topped it off with a condescending smirk as he laid his head back down resuming acting disengaged. 
Rechon seemed to snicker at that however Adridge sighted out of minor annoyance. 
"Corny?" Rechon asked.
"An utterance of a word by Joel," he answered. "You don't know him, but I find his speech rather fascinating."
“I'll go find him.” She then stood up and walked off in no specific direction. The small villages they were in wasn’t exactly big only about ten deteriorating buildings that seemed as if they could fall at any moment with the constant abuse of the majestic winds waters and snow that came each year.
This place itself had no more than ten buildings that shared a similar resemblance in the way that it was built. Wooden logs and hardly any planks. Finding Igneous should not have been too hard given the pathways were made of dirt and not some form of stone so she quickly found slight hints of hoofsteps which she followed into what appeared to be a house with a half caved in room. “Igneous?” she called out. The was the sounds of a scuffle in the next room over and she walked in to find him using his sword to pop the lid off of a crate that sat hidden in the corner of the room. “What's this?” she asked.
He turned his head surprised at her sneakiness with her dark armor making a perfect silhouette in the light that came in from outside. He said, “My theory; a stash.” He leveled his head upward to get a better view inside the chest high box and pulled out a few fixed weapons. “Bandits. They’ve been here,” he said as he threw the device to the ground.
Adridge sighed and sat down next to the weapon as Igneous kept digging through the crate for more. She summoned a tool and picking up the device she began to dismantle it and gradually discarding pieces as they fell away. “Igneous,” she said as she continued to work. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
“Manny have wanted to,” he said not continuing to dig around. There were only three weapons two of which were fixed and one meant for a unicorn. Now there were cloths and cloths and four much smaller boxes that sat at the bottom of the crate. “I never gave them the time of day.”
“Would you do so for me?” she asked. He didn’t answer as he began throwing the pieces of cloth and clothing on the ground. “I'm not just some stranger or commoner I’m your friend Igneous.”
“I wouldn’t want to chase you off.” He tipped the crate over letting two of the four smaller boxes tumble out. “You would be my third by the end of this mission. I swear by it.”
“Yea,” she said jokingly nodding as she finished the second and leaving it in a pile with the others. “I could imagine we all would be at eachothers throats by the end of this mission. Months could drive one crazy.”
“That's not wha~,” he was going to finish but then he wanted to give his best respects to Adridge. “Yes,” he said agreeing with her. “This could drive anypony crazy.”
“Igneous,” she said having noticed his compensation. “It should be known that I’ve always have seen you as a sort of troubled spirit. More so than most and even though you try, ponies are still drawn to you.” Igneous sat himself down as he stared down at the ground and at the contents of the first smaller box that contained rotted food. “By all means I should hate you if you were anypony else, but you… there's something more. You're a natural leader.”
His ears perked and he felt his spine crawl. “I'm not. Don't ever say that,” he pleaded.
“You're doing it now, even as we speak. You can’t deny yourself who you are.”
“Who am I?” he said avoiding glances.
“Igneous,” she quietly answered. “Your Igneous and nopony else. You a Falconer and proud of it. You the leader of a team and humble to it. Lead us now, this night and days to come. I… may get lazy… Sometimes” she said giving him a warm welcoming smile.
This drew out a smile of his own: A rare sight as it was not one of combat or of danger but a genuine smile. “I think I’ll have to pick up the burden then.” He lifted the lid on the next box revealing tools for work and repair. He set it aside.
“There Igneous. There you are. My leader.” She took the third box from within the larger crate and found it contained pieces of bandages and some fire paper oddly enough. From outside they heard the sound of metal hoofs hitting the dirt followed up by chatting both from Rechon and Floritha casually going over topics as they trotted passed the building Adridge and Igneous occupied and headed for where every pony else had gathered. “Seems there back,” she said standing up and readjusting her black cape so that it laid across her back blending in with her dark armor. “Will you be coming?”
He nodded his head and stood up but just before he exited with Adridge he remembered the last box that sat in the lower corner of the crate. Mutely he reentered the room and picked it up in his magical grip. It was almost empty save it for a solid object that bounced around within it not boasting in much of weight. He removed the lid and found that it was a book with no title. It was old with thin pages but when he opened it he found that the writing was still pristine. 
‘My name is Donnavitch Areious,’ it read. ‘And to me there is much to be known I should boast. However I won’t bore myself with having to reiterate my past but however I…’ Igneous got cut off from reading when Adridge called him wondering why he failed to follow. “I'm Here!” he called out as he bagged the book at his side and exited the household. 
That night when most Igneous expected little of them to fall asleep. After the briefing most were left speechless at the knowledge bestowed upon them so abruptly. An intier nation still alive and nopony knew, and not only that but one with a possible army fueled by the rage of Noriphmy’s ignorance towards their existance. Even Adridge felt betrayed by what she had to hear. Most left although not completely as they only wanted someplace lonely the think. Oxinum and Floritha having already known this for some time stayed and slept somewhat easier than Adridges team. 
Igneous knew it was best to leave troubled mines to themselves but he himself hardly found sleep either. He couldn’t help but feel that this was somehow his fault. Mabie through means of siblings it was as it was his father's fault or maybe his father's father and Kohligan just found himself in the same position. 
These thoughts thretened to invade him further and he feared corruption so he harkened back to a friend who always said when she was troubled she would just read something about magic. It soothed the nerves for her and eased the mind. So Igneous thoe not having a book on magic still had a documented journal at his side. Author Devonivitch if he remembered correctly. 
Checking the status on Oxinum and Floritha he could tell they were fast asleep as he ordered. Sitting in the corner with his hardened armor pressing up against the wood he unpacked the book and began reading the first page...
My name is Donnavitch Areious, and to me there is much to be known I should boast. However I won’t bore myself with having to reiterate my past but however it should be known that I myself derive from Istudious. I have decided to leave. Not with the caravans though it gives me equal opportunity amongst common rank, but off to the land of Carridian themselfs. A place of which is new and unexplored.
My goals are not entirely certain as they are unrealistic but it should be said I admired the Hexers during there existence. There magic was something to marvel at as they seemed to define what power is. Even to an earth pony magic was not out of reach as a Hexer. With myself being of earth I should find comfort in knowing that I am not bound to the natural laws of nature. At least not entirely. The source of their magic is unknown but there once was a saying amongst ourselves that if one needed an adventure to simply walk in any direction and you just may find it. Perhaps magic could also apply.
My allegiance during this journey will and forever is to Istudious. It will remain strong and even stronger still to Quariomy Verex. A vow if any pony may have would be Quariomy. A pony to be admired if one to be admired ever existed. A pony that with presents alone could command grand halls with the slightest essence of voice. Quariomy is a leader a beacon of our own and even in hard times and harder times to come Quariomy will faithfully be there to lead us in times of hardship were as the blood of the faithful will strongly guide us towards greatness. 
Here I leave only as a vessel. Who I am and where I come from is and has been forever etched into the blood that flows within me. Let me never forget and let me forever stand strong.
“Quariomy,” Igneous whispered. The last stranger's name his father had whispered before he died, Quariomy Verex was the one supposed to bring war. A prince leading an army or perhaps a king if married, but, ‘a pony to be admired if one to be admired ever existed.” Clearly the ponies under his reign pledge his allegiance and would do anything if commanded. Kill even. 
Igneous knew they already had a quarrel even before ever meeting but with Igneous and Noriphmy making preparations, any wrath of Quariomy may be averted and war won't have to be. This valley was big enough for two nations and the last thing Carridian needed was a war of hatred. It would be the second were as the first was a war for unity.
Resting his mind from further thought Igneous continued where he left off intent on knowing more about Quariomy if Dennavitch so allowed.
Day one; I depart.

> Chapter 3 Darkest Storm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As night turned to day the day came not by itself but with a storm none of the Falconers had expected as it was heavy, hard and unrelenting. Thoe there were many leaks and broken windows the very few standing shelters still took on the burden of the storm keeping its occupants dry and safe from the cold that came with making any sort of travel unbearable. The storm didn’t let up and the days hours began to leak into late afternoon.
“Eh?” Adridge moaned as she once again looked to the skies to see not a single hint of daylight spear through the clouds. “This storm seems too unnatural. Just whose god do you think we’ve offended?”
She was only speaking to the four who were present: Rechon, Lindestic, Oxinum and herself. Floritha and Igneous were in other smaller parts of there only sanctuary no doubt still able to hear however. “You can trust mine is satisfied,” Lindestic said lying himself against the wall with feathers that still blew in the intruding breeze as he was within clear view of the door with a building that sat on the far side of the road made up of nothing more than three nearly broken walls and a roof that he seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on. “I’ve offered up my prayers there's nothing more to be done.”
“I follow no god,” being the only words Rechon said.
“Oxinum?” she asked taking to shelter in a corner.
“Nada.”
“And neither I nor Igneous have one either.” She said to herself.
“Neither Floritha,” Oxinum said. “You can trust that I know.”
“So what is this then? Were about to undertake an important mission for the sake of Noriphmy and here we are forced to take shelter and await a break in the weather.” Adridge stomped her hooves in frustration. “Are none of you the least bit worried?”
“Worrying it counter productive,” Oxinum sighed. “What could I do?” he asked himself as he thought. “I could wish for a fire or beg for some food but that does not mean it will merely appear out of thin air. I’ve got to spend my time to make and gather the ingredients for food or fire if I desired them so.”
“And just what do you think we should do with our time then?” Rechon asked doubtfully. “Manny months just to get there, and I'm hardly prepared, many months back making our journey nearly a year and I intended to at least start making progress this morning. Not waste away in some shed at the whim of some thunderous storm.”
The room fell silent as it continued to pour outside. Truly they all desired what Rechon had said but they knew that sometimes some things were out of there control. The thunder and rain continued on for many more hours and even into the night. Igneous and many of the rest had cycled through the rest of the old house exploring what little there was to explore in an effort to pass the time by.
Only two stayed still for the whole day. One character being of course Oxinum who gave little comment to further conversations that followed and the next being Lindestic who despite the cold still sat by the doorway watching what little of a building lay across the street as it lazily swayed in the breeze always threatening to fall over at every creak and crack that came throughout the night.
Every pony found sleep in spite of stress and morning came but the storm was still ever present leaving the night behind. The cloud still thick the rain still heavy and the wind still strong. It however was still early even for a Falconer as every pony was fast asleep. Every pony that was until the scarce structure collapsed, the very one Lindestic had been watching.
Moments later Adridge found herself awake. Sadly the storm had not let up and she shook her head in disappointment as if she could have done something to prevent it. She stood herself up and shook off any water that found itself on her armor and black cape and looked outside to see the stormy skies still looked as fierce as ever. “Are you sure this isn’t the act of some god?” she asked.
“You're very superstitious for a pony without one,” Lindestic answered as he layed in the corner secluded from most of the wind.
She sat herself down opposite from him and said, “I-I don't align myself with one but it doesn't mean I don't believe they're real.”
“You seem to be afraid of there power,” he said. “It's only natural to fear god's but to think there not remorseful is most times incorrect.” 
She pawed the ground shifting some of the mud around as she allowed a moment of silence for the both of them. “What god do you worship,” she asked.
“Me?” he asked. “Hm it's hard to explain really as my god is personal only to me.” When he looked he saw that she was a bit disappointed in his answer as she continued to play stair into the dirt. “You're looking for one aren't you?”
“Say I was?”
“Well each nation has had their share of unique gods and goddesses but they all shared two in particular.” He stood up as he began to explain and Adridge noticed that in his left wind he seemed to be cupping something against his body. He sat down next to her and continued to explain. “One of course were the Hexers as a whole and in particular only to our nation Noriphmy. The hexer who saved us from Aminus the black dragon.”
“And who would the second god be?”
He gulped as he gathered his words, “Aminus himself.” When Adridge didn’t comment he continued, “You see Aminuses destruction of Istudious was not swift. It took months of persistence and in those months word spread of the black dragon who called himself Aminus. Now the thing about gods is we believe that any creature pony or object can be a god if it is worshiped enough. This is how some say Hexers reached there power was because of the divinity offered by others. One popular belief is that the first Hexer was a common warrior or falconer that was praised amongst many and with that praise he grew in power. Not power as in the ability to control the crowds, but granted magical power itself.”
“Who granted him this, ‘magical power?’” She asked.
“Now this I don't know but being of faith for many years one begins to ponder and my personal belief is that it was the world itself that overlooked it’s creatures ponies and objects and would grant them power according to their notoriety. And the world is exactly what I worship.” He pointed at the wall just ahead but not the wall itself but the lands of carridian that laid just beyond the wall. “You see Carridian used to be just the three nations. Infact history has said the nations were very close and not just close metaphorically but one old guardsman journal stated that once three watch towers, one of each nation, were so close that during long days they would erect makeshift flags and targets and take turns shooting bolts and arrows at one another's flags or targets seeing who could score the most hits. And at the end of the day they would fire those same bolts and arrows back just to return them to their owner who lived one nation over.”
“But how could that be when Istudious takes months of travel?”
“This is where my belief stands that it was the world. Not the work of Aminus during his reign of terror or Noriphmy who disappeared soon after but the world itself. If there was a god controlling this storm then you would see him just above the clouds and if there was a god who expanded the valley we would have known of his presence but we don't and we only make assumptions. That is why my god is the world because it is always present no matter where we are or what we're doing, and if we offend our neighbor or wrong any stranger the world, itself, will know.”
“The world can be cruel.”
“I have a feeling we this storm will last one more day,” he said with a tint of worry. “But in its place will be something worse. Its-it's only a feeling but I’ve been wrong before.”
“What will it be?”
“Pray about it.”

> Chapter 4 The Final Words
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    “What is that you got there hidden in your wing?” Oxinum asked as Lindestic took a new place by the wall. Adridge was present as well as Oxinum having just woken up.
“This?” he said laying himself down and slowly stretching his wing out. Making sure whatever it was didn't brush up against his bladed wings he slowly dropped a red ball that seemed to be a bird. “It's a baby red Cardinal bird.” He scooped his four hoof around making sure to cup it at the bend keeping it away from the metal gauntlets that shot out deadly claws as it was cold and his intentions was to keep it warm.
“Where did you find this thing?” Adridge said taking part in the new found subject.
He nodded out the door way. “Yesterday I found a nest within that now collapsed building containing only this little birdy. I thought the mother would come back but it didn’t. I think the storm may have killed it.”
“That's unlikely,” she said as she scooted herself closer to get a better look at the vibrantly red bird.
“I found three dead birds one stormy night,” Rechon said as he stretched himself also taking part in the new found conversation. “My little sister insisted we bury them. We were little hahe.”
“It's a female,” Lindestic said angling his head around it as it layed next to him snug in his foreleg. “You can tell because female's feathers are brighter than that of a males but… This one seems to not want to open up its eyes. Its clearly alive.”
“You know what this reminds me of?” Rechon asked.
“What?” Oxinum asked for Lindestic as he continued to appear asleep.
“Warrior Benagun-”
“And his wolf companion Elcosh,” Lindestic finnish a bit enthusiastically.
“I heard that there were three and that they were brothers.”
“I heard that was just for the sake of a better story,” she commented. “But still he was a warrior marked by his wolf,” Adridge put on a smile then said, “I find it funny that you could end up being a Falconer marked by a red Cardinal. A song bird like no other, and could lul any unsuspecting foe to sleep,” she joked.
“No, I expect it to fly off when it comes time. I just… Well I couldn't just let it die, let's be honest. You would do the same.”
“Do you know how to take care of a bird Lindestic?” Adridge asked as she began to examine her curved sword she held in her magical grip out of boredom. She would be flashing the sun shine about just for fun if the sky wasn’t ever so present with storm clouds.
“One bird is the same as any other,” he said. “Keep it warm when young feed it seeds, and in this case and many others too, small bugs and insects.” He nuzzled it a little causing a flurry of wing flaps but with failed expectations to see its eyes open. He sighed with slight disappointment and said, “I won't burden you with having to help. I can take care of it myself.”
Adridge shook her head and said, “Its fine. Really it is. I can keep it in my bag if you need. It’ll keep it warm and cozy.”
“I don't know about the insects,” Rechon said tapping it with his hoof which caused its head to shrug downwards to avoid the very touch. “But I was a farmer as you know, and I can deal with seeds and such.”
“See,” Adridge said with a smile. She took them both in for a group hug taking them both around the neck causing a dull clack to be made as both of their chest plates hit her dark armor. “This is what I like about us. Good team, good team.”
Now while Adridge and her team were having their moment Oxinum politely sleaked out of the room in search of the two thirds of his team who seemed to never be around these past few days despite the close quarters. He knew were Igneous was as he was always in the room with a missing wall to the outside but he was went into the room with opposite of it which too had substantial missing structure.
For a moment Oxinum she was out of Oxinums sight but only when he looked up did he see Floritha laying atop the two rafters that crossed in the middle of the ceiling. With both of her mettle made four hooves hanging limply in the air she took noticed of Oxinum and positioned herself properly as to be polite. “Oh hello Oxinum.” She rolled herself over falling to the floor but landing sure footedly on all fours. “Did you come to talk to me it's seemed like a long time since we did speak.”
“Yes,” he nodded in no particular direction. “The cabin fever may make it seem that way.”
She unfolded her wings and flicked them around trying to shake off any dust that may have settled on her bladed feathers and then sat herself down. “Well? Be polite and sit down what is it you come to talk about?” She asked as she patted the floor next to her beckoning him to to sit.
“Ponies lately have been talking,” he began. “A little too much for my liking. Nothing sinister or anything but I tend not to question the superstition of others as most times I find them right.”
“Superstition? What did they say?”
“Nothing they have said but something I myself feel my days are numbered.”
“O-Oxinum?” She asked worriedly.
“Please,” he said raising a hoof. “My name is Dramier. Bold and as hard as an Ox,” he said pounding his chest plate avoiding the center button as to not cause his crossbows to deploy themselves prematurely. “That's why I took the name, but the reason I come to talk to you is because you deserved more from me.”
“Dramier? What do you mean? You’ve given all you could have to our team. Please don't do this to yourself.”
“No. For the past year I’ve been so introverted that's it's beginning to suffocate me. I know you and I knew Dettetcheny.” For a brief moment he took a swift moment of silence. “But, neither of you knew me. Who I was and why I avoid others gauzes.”
“Dramier? Wha… Why? Whats gotten to you.”
“Do you remember your first year as a Falconer Floritha?” He asked as the rain and wind continued to throw itself at the wooden house hold. She nodded a bit worriedly as she observed his physique which was still and always was calm as ever. “Its great isn’t it? When you finally leave the Village and with a group of Falconers bent on making sure you become the best you can be. My origins were kind as I worked in the lumber villages as a woodworker carving and cutting to their liking that I became skilled in the craft. I made my Crossbows and bolts as you can see.” He gently motioned to his side mounted crossbows as it was smoothly carved with small details he put in for himself. His bolts you could always tell where his as they were always marked as if a vine was growing up it. “Now when we ran out of our local resources we sold three quarters of the land to farmers and the rest to miners.
“Some of our village left in search of new timber while others stayed to stake a claim in farming. My parents insisted I stayed but I didn’t want my skill wasting away in some recessive cycle so I left with the Falconers who had come to make sure the deals on the land we were selling went through with one another as to not scam the farmers or miners. After the matter was handled and each pony sold and received their share of land they took me in.
“The for the first time in my life it was an adventure as they taught me things I would have never learned otherwise. How to hunt track and kill monsters and of course… pony too. The majority of the first year was also kind to me but then we found ourselves undertaking a new mission. This was near the end of my first year and still when bandits ran rampant near the end of what you and I know as the golden age of banditry. You all know the capital never insisted on sending warriors so we were the only ones left to clean it up. Now this team I was with was named, ‘Team Equilas.’ During this mission we went hunting for a bandit group buried deep within some thickly wooded forest where they were said to have set up fortifications. These woods were so thick and the group could have been anywhere so my team leader suggested we split up but stay close to avoid getting lost or separated.’
“So we did, and me and Contharsis went slightly separate ways making sure to stay close to one another. We inched our way through this dense forest for what seemed to be days because this particular group was impressively armed with even the best Falconering equipment making the element of surprise and skill in stealth our best friend. I’ve heard the stories of what they did to villages and the villagers within those villages and I could say I was terrified, but I knew with conthersis at my side there was nothing to fear. That was until I found she was no longer anywhere to be seen.’
“Her and I were supposed to take up the east side of the general location while the other three took up the west side so losing her left me completely alone. Me, an earth pony, with nothing but my own made crossbows and crafted wooden bolts against what I’ve heard to be an almost exclusive unicorn bandit gang. I was terrified and I began to frantically look around for Contharsis making sure to stay as low and quiet as possible. Then I heard some movement some were around me and I couldn’t pinpoint where the sound had come from as it sounded like it was all around.’
“With the slightest of optimism I thought it was Contharsis so I called her name and there was no response, from her that is. I was however met with a unicorn who wielded a great sword far bigger than any of Igneouses or Adridges blades. There was a brief confrontation that I miraculously won. Thing was he wasn’t dead and he was screaming in pain as he was riddled with wooden bolts. Eight was the number and not a single one granting him the sweat relief of death.’
“His cries of pain alerted the others and I could hear the advancing hoofsteps of the uninvited so I ran as fast as I could. It however wasn’t fast enough for they knew the land better than I. So I hid in the brush letting them overtake and pass me unaware of my whereabouts. All around I could hear the movements and shouts of the others as they shouted the horrible horrible things they would do to me when they found me, trying to intimidate me. Believe that it worked because it did work and the word terrified was becoming more and more of an understatement as time went on.’
“Seconds turned into minutes and minutes stretched into hours that seemed to drag on longer than should have been allotted. I never moved an inch from where I hid, refusing to make a sound and refusing to take any risk. I had my crossbows deployed as I waited for what I thought was the inevitable. The rants never sized and the constant sound of movement was all around.’
“I waited and waited and waited so much so that night fell and by then I thought my team had abandoned me. Thing was I was young and I happened to forget that one of the most important codes of Falconering was you never leave one another behind. If one gets captured we all set out to rescue him. If all but one gets captured then the one should and will come back for them. It was my first mistake to think otherwise.’
“Suddenly straight ahead of me I started to hear some rustling and in my increasing anxiety I thought I had been found. I prepared myself ready to fire with shaky hoofs and unstable head. Dechon? You know you can’t hit a target unless your looking them full on? It's just how the equipment works as it's strapped to your sides and can pivot on its hinges to meet the target you intend to hit. It makes killing an enemy all the more... personal, as at that moment when he sees you and you see him, you make eye contact.’
“In that final, brief moment of combat you see the surprise on their faces. The fear, the confusion, loneliness, you see it all in a blink of an eye, in a flick of the ear and it's gone. Except it remains seared in your brain. Every kill, every victim right here in your head never to be forgotten.’
“And… that was the last look I saw on Contharsis. I held her in my hoofs as I watched the final signs of life drain from her eyes but one thing I didn’t see in her dead lifeless stare was forgiveness. Just the fear, confusion, the loneliness and the pain even as I tried to aid her. Tragic part was… I loved her. She never knew because I never told her, but I loved her because she had always been there for me when I had joined the team. Always willing to help me always willing to lend a hoof, willing to listen. She was the one who trained and me taught me how to be a Falconer. She never left my side when I got lost that night. She came back for me and that was how I repaid her.’
“I never trusted myself after that day. If I could, I would have quit Falconering all together but some ponies got to keep Noriphmy safe. Now even today I constantly dodge glances only looking at each and every one of you through the corner of my eyes because I am just too scared I would end up doing the same thing to you, and I am more than terrified you would give me that same look. That final look as death sweeps over you completely and there is nothing left but a husk of meat and bone. Don’t ask me to change and please... don’t think ill of me because honestly… I'm scared. I’m just scared. That's all there is to it and this is the only time I will ever mention it.”
“Dramier…” Floritha began. “I would never think ill of you.” as she trying to rest a friendly hoof on his back which he pulled himself from. “You're no stranger your somepony I would trust my life with no mater what. You shouldn’t have to do this to yourself.”
Dramier found himself quite but after a moment passed while in thought a smirk broke out across his face. “Ha,” he tiredly belched as he stood up. “I'm still just a young little colt. You think I would have grown out of it by now; this pette fear.” He shook his head in self disgust as he stomped a hoof in frustration. “Even as I recognise it I still can't over come this long since traumatic event.” He turned himself to Floritha who was still staring with concern though still refrained from eye contact. “Come the day I die you will still find me as I am. That scared cold little colt surrounded by murderous unicorns out in the woods many years ago. This I feel and this I promise even if it's the last one I make.”
That night, again without a watch they fell asleep with the clouds still keeping watch as they continued to fall. Igneous himself decided company was the best alternative and so he resided near the rest of the group where he was welcomed. Floritha stayed near the troubled Dramier for his comfort and again a day and a night passed which gave way to a new day promising to pave the way to the new kingdom.

> Chapter 5 The Final Push
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Adridge this day found herself waking up to the slight sounds of a scuffle and when she opened up her eyes she found the fleeting glimpses of Igneous as he left through the front door of their shelter. Taking care as to not wake up any of the other ponies she too silently stood up and moved carefully around the planks that made the most noise and eventually moved outside the household. She could tell from inside but now seeing the bright blue sky again after what felt like so long was very refreshing but this came as second thought to her as she wanted to know what was on her friends mined. 
Last night he seemed to have needed comfort as he normally would have refrained from too much contact weather it was he wanted to read his book or he just wasn’t comfortable with all the strangers. Surely he would not have considered her a stranger as she knew him far more personal than either of the rest of them. 
The ground was awfully muddy but neither Igneous nore her seemed to care that much as she trailed behind seeing as to where he went which wasn’t far as it was the place she last found him in with the crate full of fixed weaponry. Stepping into the gaping wall she indeed saw him go into the very room with that same crate and disappear. Very carefully she navigated herself to the doorway and peered in. The weather was kind to this particular area of the building as it seemed no water had found itself in. 
She immediately noticed Igneous didn’t seem like himself; Hardened and bold. She saw him pull out the book bound in a simple leather cover and some unused fire paper. In his magical grip he quickly fanned through the entirety of its pages and closed it again after stopping for a brief moment on the last one then closing it too. Carefully he wrapped the book in the fire paper and set it on the wooden floor of the room.
She then watched as he took some of the tattered cloth from the place he last left it and studied its gray intricacy. This too he set each piece atop or near the book itself and he sat down as if to be in deep thought. 
Then by accident Adridge slightly shifted her weight which caused the plank she had been standing to suddenly creak. Igneouses ears shot up at the noise and Adridge lowered her head for having been caught intruding. “Is it too much to be left alone to mourn?” he slowly asked.
So he was mourning, she thought. Over a book? “No,” she answered kindly. “But it's hard for anypony to leave one to mourn alone. Especially a friend.”
He didn’t answer but instead he picked up the book wrapped in cloth and firepaper and drew his sword. Resting an exposed bit of the fire paper against the blade he suddenly ran it down the length of the broadside all the way down to the tip igniting the paper cloth and book and again he set it on the wooden floor to burn, and Adridge sat next to Igneous and watched with him as he seemed to stare deep into the flames or at the book itself and what words it had held.
Not wanting to be rude she let him carry out this ritual till the book had been burned to ashes and coming to assumptions she slowly nodded her head and said, “Yup. Good book?”
“What,” he said remembering her presents having previously been deep in thought. “No it was… personal. It seemed I owe a debt and I repaid it the best I could is all.”
She gave him a confused look he appeared to not have received as he still stared at the ashes. “A debt? How? It's only a book.”
He shook his head and said, “It's not only a book it was to me alone, closure, from past events.” He turned to the smaller dark armored pony and patted her on the head which she was reluctant to shake out of. “I think this book was place here for me to find and for me alone to know.” He then helped Adridge to her hooves and led her out of the room and the building. “I’ll be in good spirits hunter. For once I feel… at ease. It's a bit nice actually.”
Really she was nothing but confused but not wanting to taint the moment she said, “That's good for you Igneous am glad you feel that way.” She took a deep breath of the fresh air as they crossed the muddied street. “We can finally make way,” she said excitedly. “Oh I hope we run for miles, for days even.”
“I sure do too and I am sure the rest feel the same way.”
Moments later Adridge felt like a mother as she had a harder time than usual getting her team going. It appeared there reluctance to travel had somewhat diminished in the span of but a few hours but they did however get back into the swing of things once they realized they were about to leave this rusty old house. Sooo that worked out…
“Last few days haven't been kind,” Oxinum grunted as he did his best to stand up from with his legs being cramped.
“You'll be fine,” Floritha said not having the same dilemma as he did.
Lindestic did his best to feed the little bird with some ground up bread he had been saving and it did eat just didn’t open up his eyes. “How hard is it?” he asked the bird. “Just open up your eyes.” But after it got a few bites it snuggled back up into the folds of his wing and he cupped it against his bodie. “I don't think I will be able to fly,” he told Adridge who had summoned a longbow and was shooting summon arrows at a target he himself could not see further down the pathway. She gave him his attention when he said this and he gestured to the wing cupping the bird and said, “I'm a bit preoccupied.”
“Are you sure I can't just store him in my bag?” She asked as she summoned another arrow took aim and fired again.
There was a solid metallic thud and he answered, “Hmm I don't think she’ll take it.”
“It's a stubborn bird that is,” Rechon said following Adridge outside.
Lindestic followed too leaving only Kara who was also about to follow just as soon as she finished checking her bladed feathers for any infractions incase they happen to fall apart during flight. “She's just a baby.”
When he looked down the muddied street he found it was Igneous she was shooting at, but it was for practice as Igneous deflected the next arrow sending it sticking to the wall next to him before it slowly dissolved to a shadowy nothing. Summoning another black arrow she readied the shot and said, “This will be the last one Igneous I would rather save my magic.” She fired and Igneous reacting quickly dodged out of the way, spinning the sword down upon the shaft of the arrow digging it into the ground. “Hm, wasn't too bad.”
Igneous flipped his sword back into its sheath at his side and said, “Thanks for the practice.”
“Its nothing Igneous,” she said releasing her magical hold on the longbow and letting it dissipate and disappear into a black mist. “Igneous. When are you going to start improving in any of the three magics?”
“I'm not a naturalist.”
“You don't need to be,” she said. “It grows on you with study.”
“Trust me,” he said looking down on her. “I've studied.”
“Yikes.” Really the only type of magic that came naturally or with more power than usual would be Alchemy but even that could be learned.	What Adridge was scared about however was at the age Igneous was at he should at least be able to summon multiple weapons and hold at least four objects, only he can hold two and can barely summon a shield to save his life. Yikes would indeed explain her fright.
However his skill in the weapon arts was enough to pull through in most situations as he was more skilled than most but still could not be called a master. He could be her in a skirmish even without summoned blades, mostly thanks to his unique swords. 
“Are we about to finally begin our journey?” Oxinum said stepping into the light.
“Yes, finally,” Igneous answered.
“Good,” Oxinum replied. “You mean towards that signal over there.” He pointed to the sky behind Igneous towards their destination.
“Signal? Out here?” he said looking towards the direction he pointed. Sure enough there it was a bright white starlike object flying high into the air. Igneous caught it just at its apex and began witnessing it fall back to the ground to forever disappear. He sighed with udder disappointment that was deeper than any mineshaft that had ever been dug.
“Who would be needing help out here?” Rechon asked.
“Who wouldn’t be dying in such a hospitable land layden with monsters?” Floritha said as she began to fly up wards trying to set her sights on the source that was no doubt shrouded by small mountains and trees.
“Perhaps not dying,” Adridge said stepping just in front of Igneous. “That signal takes light magic and the brighter and higher signifies the health of that who casted it.”
“Then there lost it seems,” Floritha said returning back to the ground. “Should we help?”
“They could be bandits,” Lindestic warned.
“If they are we will simply take their weapons,” Igneous said. “We will brand them so that any pony who runs into them will know there bandits.”
“Assuming that's befor they purge their scars,” Adridge said half to herself as she began to gather light magic at the tip of her horn. If she faltered it would create a bright flash blinding them all for a short period of time but this was a simple light magic, so in no time she shot off a star of her own which flew equally high and bright.
“Now what,” Rechon asked.
“We wait,” Adridge answered still staring into the sky as she heard the collective sighs of all the Falconers present.
And so they did. They waited impatiently for close to an hour and a half but even still who ever shot off that signal must have been many more miles out than anticipated. Or just dead. “Do we have to wait for them?” Floritha asked doubtfully.
“This is Igneouses decision,” Adridge answered.
“We’ll wait,” he said immediately. “I will not let any bandit slip through unmarked.”
Again they waited silently in the middle of the muddied street with two four sitting against a wall and the two Igneous and Adridge standing in the middle. Another moments pass and… “Did you hear that?”
Igneous turned his head to him with a slight tint of confusion. “Hear what?”

*Twack*

“GET DOWN!!!” Adridge shouted tackling Igneous and saving him from a large wooden arrow that sailed just over head.
More arrows flew past and Igneous scrambled to his hooves pulling out his shield blocking two that would have been near misses anyway. Quickly he darted behind the cover of an old building and pulled out a sword to reinforce his shielded stance.
With Adridge at his side Floritha and Rechon in the building they here hiding behind and Lindestic and Oxinum the house adjacent to them, they all stayed behind cover as suppressive arrows and flew by. “Unicorns.” Oxinum scowled as he deployed his crossbows letting them spring up at his side.
“Igneous what are your orders?” Adridge asked as she stood behind them with her curved sword readied. He looked over to her about to answer but then just down the alleyway a unicorn armored all over saw the and he saw him. Adridge quickly noticing his drawn attention turned wiping her sword around and in a blink her dark armored self had already clashed swords with the bandit covering ground faster than you would have thought reasonable. But Igneous recognised the armor.
The Unicorn blocked her first attack with his tower shield but when he slashed back he found his sword had become ensnared in her black cape and jumping back Adridge yanked her body back pulling it out of his area of influence rendering him unable to attack. She swiftly moved around his shielded defense and just as she was about to attack Igneous called out and said, “Adridge, don’t!” So instead she delivered the hilt of her sword to the unarmored jaw of her opponent knocking him to the ground and when she looked up Igneous had run into the middle of the street with arrows whizzing past waving his sword and shield.
Suddenly the arrows did stop and Igneous was left unharmed. Igneous looked into the forest trying to find their attackers and would only catch glimpses of their armor in the light. He could hear talk coming from the woods although he couldn't tell where and what they were saying exactly.
“Stay put,” Adridge commanded her armored prisoner as she shoved him down into the mud holding a sword to his back in her magical grip. How she always took on larger opponents stopped becoming a surprise to Igneous as she used speed and great control over her extended hilted curved sword was typically enough to counter most opposing tactics.
“Are you going to kill me?” asked the unicorn.
“Quiet,” Adridge said as she heavily rested a hoof on his face pressing it into the ground rendering him unable to speak any further. 
“I request an audience with your… leader, captain.” Igneous called.
With the unicorn still struggled underneath Adridges hoof she added, “Or we kill this here prisoner.” 
“Adridge,” Igneous said not wanting to appear threatening to the other faction.
“What? It's good leverage,” she said shrugging.
Then a mare called out, “Hey let's not make such rash decisions already.” With three Unicorns identically armored and weaponized standing just behind her the mare stepped out of the woods into clear view. “Were civilised we can have an honest talking to.”
“It's what I'm hoping,” Igneous said looking her up and down. At first sight she was fur coat was strikingly white that seemed to almost reflect the sun's light itself. This could easily unease any pony, but her armor was different from the other unicorns as it covered most of her body even crawling up to her face but never concealing it.
Her weapons were just barely longer than Igneouses swords which could be considered somewhat shorter than a medium sized sword. She had no shield but any pony could guess she had a few summonable shields at the ready anyway. “Now I will ask you release him.” When Adridge didn't let off her hoof the mare smiled and said, “Please?”
Igneous motioned with his hoof to obey and she did letting the Unicorn stumble to his hoofs and rejoin their ranks back in the woods. “Now I must ask,” Igneous began. “Why exactly did you attack us?”
With only Adridge and Igneous standing in the middle of the muddied street Oxinum and Rechon both took aim from under the cover of the households ensuring mutually assured destruction if these invaders decided to attack. The pegasus couldn't take flight as it seemed they had plenty of bow wielders out hiding in the woods not to mention the pegasus that already occupied the surrounding air space. “I'm sorry, truly I am,” she answered. “But my warriors can act rash sometimes it's hard for me to control all of them. Especially when so close to victory.”
“Warriors?” Adridge asked Igneous silently.
“How many?” he asked Ignoring her.
“Lets not worry about numbers right now. Exactly who are you?”
“I'm Igneous,” he answered. “Leader of our two Falconering teams. We were sent on a mission to Istudious to speak of peace and prosperity for both nations under the lands of Noriphmy.” From his bag he pulled out two neatly rolled up papers which were documents that stated the arrangements. “These were meant for Quariomy Verex, the Prince of Istudious?”
“Prince,” she said as she stepped forward to take the papers from his magical grip. Adridge reacted to this by setting her sword to guard both her and Igneous and with a flash a unicorn with plated armor clashed blades with her guarding the mare. The mare stepped back and told this attacker, “Morillas, please.”
Without disengaging Morillas said, “I'm sorry. Your protection and satisfaction is all I desire.”
She took the papers and stepped away and in doing so Morillas also did standing near her but never breaking eye contact with Adridge who may have just found a new long standing enemy. She began to read the scripts allowed letting every pony present know what was written. This took some time as she read in great detail the plans for Noriphmy and how they were building new settlements and villages and how the government of Istudious will remain its own even while in the lands of Noriphmy while still having full access to its treasury and resource stocks. 
She finished with the last lines reading, “there are far more alternatives than war and being the only two nations left we should mend the wounds and make peace for everypony within the great valley of Carridain.” She neatly rolled up the papers together and looked towards Igneous. “Tell me Igneous,” she said. “Do the civilians of Noriphmy know of our existence?”
“No,” Igneous answered. “Only high royalty and our two teams.”
She nodded and then asked, “So tell me, what made these ponies, ‘of high royalty,’ change there mind?”
“A new monarch.”
Her ears flicked up and a she said, “You mean to say the old king is dead?”
“Murdered,” Igneous said trying to hide the anger of the truth.
“Hm… Murdered.” The papers suddenly combusted into fire quickly turning into ash and when Igneous looked up from the ground they had fallen on he could see that all around he was the small village was surrounded by many more unicorns lethally armed and ready for war. “I'm sorry Igneous but the rage of Istudious cannot be quenched by a sudden change in petty politics. You think I am a fool?,” she said quickly turning to anger. “I was there the day Kohligan came to speak of, ‘peace,’ and it only ended up in bloodshed and year after year he would return only to seeking to keep us still and docile in such a dead nation.” She whipped out a sword digging it into the ground and significant amounts of mud all over Igneous and Adridge. The warriors all around began to laugh at their humiliation. “We don't kill messengers so do deliver a messenger from us. There is no peace, only war.”
She turned away from them but before she got far Igneous, with fire in his eyes said, “I will not deliver a message for the one you seek is already here.” She paused in her tracks and as Igneous pulled out his sword he said, “I am Igneous Sirvidian prince of Noriphmy, son of Kohligan Verex who was murdered by Verex himself. Bring me Quariomy Verex. A one on one duel to settle this conflict once and for all.”
“Igneous no,” Adridge said worriedly. Again better than most in the weapon arts but would surely lose to one of pristine royalty of properly trained.
“You needn’t look far, for Quariomy is here.” She drew her swords and turned to face him with equally burning passion for her nation. “The conditions for your victory?”
“I only want peace between to nations,” he answered as he poised himself for battle with his body held close to the ground with one sword drawn with the shield and the second sheathed at his side. “Yours?”
“The conquest of Noriphmy.” And with that there was a roar from that rang out from each warrior present and from the magnitude Igneous could tell they easily numbered more than a hundred strong. “Dress yourself. You have ten minutes to prepair.”
> Chapter 7 Champion of the Blood and Champion of the Ember
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Igneous however sat under the shade of a lone standing tree just outside the township borders were Istudian warriors have taken up temporary residence only to await the battle that was too come, or duel to be correct. He did his best to find peace of mind as he thought strategies and contemplated as to what was about to happen.
Five minutes left his and Adridges team waited patiently but the same could not be said for Adridge herself. There were warriors surrounding them making sure they did not abandon the call to combat, but they kept their distance making sure as not to be taken as unkind by the Falconers. To Igneous who sat still with his weapons laid at his side and shield still mounted on his back, Adridge who had been giving him what looked like the death stare since the beginning of his allotted time finally loudly and aggressively broke the silence drawing on the attention of all the falconers present. “You? You are the lost prince of Noriphmy?” Igneous opened up his eyes to meet her menacing glare. “You? My fellow friend, so rash, so reckless is the heir to the throne and son of King Kohligan Sirvidain the second… Of Noriphmy?”
Looking from her to the falconers in the background giving awkward glares and back to Adridge who still gave him the death stare he simply said, “yea?”
“Yea!?”
“What do you want me to say?” he said throwing his head back.
“I don't believe you,” she said not bothering to answer. “I know what you're trying to do. I know what you're trying to do, and I am advising you not to.” Igneous was about to retort but she cut him off. “How could you act so recklessly she was going to set us loose and worn Noriphmy only now because of you your life is in danger.”
“I wasn’t lying, it's the truth.” Looking back to his team he said, “Oxinum tell her it's the truth.”
“Oxinum looking more shifty eyed than normal from having been thrown into the conversation said, “uh yea. Truth and all.”
“I still don't believe you.”
“Look at my armor. It's red and bears the markings of fire and embers. These are symbols of royalty.”
“You think…” hearing this she thought it was redundant. “That holds no credibility. I see armor like that used as antiques.” She began to go on a uncontrolled rant spouting disbelief and disappointment all the while the warriors seemed to get a good chuckle out of there current situation seeing this smaller black armored mare shout at the clearly dominant stallion. 
“Listen to me,” he commanded holding a hoof up. “If you will not listen to me as a falconer then I will command you as the heir of Noriphmy.” Seeing her fall mute he began, “My father has stirred up some bad blood between the ponies of Istudious and it is my duty to see it end as nonviolent as possible. This was not reclass but a calculated maneuver as a duel between two champions is the most humane way to end a conflict especially between two nations.”
He picked up both swords and sheathed them away. “This fight will be the most pivotal moment in history as it could mean the difference between peace or the beginning of the second war, a more sophisticated war.”
“How do you know in your victory  the warriors of Istudious won't revolt at of her death?”
“I don't intend on killing her.” he nodded towards one of his blades and said, “My intention is to quarter stroke her with the crossguard beating her into submission and then will she realize defeat and honor the agreement with her still able to lead her warriors but not in war.”
“But…” she said as she tried to think of an argument. “What if you are defeated? What then.”
He swallowed nodding his head as he was about to go over the aftermath of his death, “In my death, you are to warn Maces father. I will not call him by name as I don't know his but you will find he is leading this nation from within the capital. Tell him to appease the Istudians. I want no conflict and no reason for bloodshed. In my death there will still be peace tho it will be hardfought.” He looked at the worried Adridge and said, “I need you to trust me and believe that what I say will work.” Lowering his head to meet her gaze he asked, “Do you trust me?”
Looking up she answered, “I do.”
As he began to depart Adridge said, “Igneous water.” When he turned around he found Adridge covering the areas underneath his eyes with a black powdery substance. “It's awfully bright out.”
Quariomy herself rested in the open surrounded by her warriors who fully armed and equipped with some having been heavily packed with baggage while those who hauled carts of equipment fell further back by command. They kept watch as she patently waited for Igneous himself. Standing close by staring out at the tree covered, hilly valley was Morallis lightly equipped in armor that consisted mostly of mail and thick, darkened cloth allowing him to move quickly and quietly. He had a single long sword slung across his back without even the luxury of a scabbard to hold it safely.
She called out to him saying only his name. He turned to her and answered, “Yes Quariomy?”
“The time for combat is near and I need to make my final preparations that will follow swiftly in my victory.”
“Of course,” he said. “What will you have me do. Again I am fit for any dead.”
He smiled and said, “I know you are.” She turned away and looked out towards the north and said, “I need you to travel swiftly and meat with the first brigade. I trust you can lead the invasion.”
“But, Quariomy,” he began. “If it isn’t any trouble to you I would like to whiten your duel. Honors for the offer but as a friend I feel I should be there for you.”
“You think I'm weak,” she said toying with him.
“Anything but. My appearance was merely for show. I would have made them all my scabbards if I had the will. One body one sword.”
“I believe you would have, but in case you forget with the trust of the first brigade I intrusted our new weapon. The completion will be soon if not now and I want you to witness innovation in the midst of battle, as a friend. Can you be there for me.”
He took a moment and looked a bit sadden he could be with Quariomy the moment of her fight, but putting feelings aside he said, “As a wish I will do your will. I will be there just as asked.” He walked paster her and as he did he gave a final few words. “When we advance, withheld will are relent be. No mercy for the warriors of Noriphmy. By my blood and bone will it be.”
“By the blood,” she softly chimed. “Oh and please do make sure Nassera is well fed,” she said just before he disappeared. “I would hate to see her malnourished.” With a reassuring nod she watched as Morallis concealed himself behind the veil of his armor and dart off into the woods as a shadow swiftly disappearing beyond the foliage hard of to be seen unwilling. Taking a moment to herself she walked up to one of her warriors and said, “Call on the presence of Champion Igneous, our time is now.”
“Yes my princes.”
Turning to all the warriors that have gathered around loudly announced, “Gather around and witness me against the Prince of Noriphmy.” She took them down the path and into the town were as the warriors gathered along the border easily encircling around the entirety of it with sheer numbers alone, and when she looked she found Igneous standing just on the other end fully armored and weaponized.
“Your word Princess,” he commanded.
“In your victory the conditions will be met. You have my word,” she answered back. “Your, ‘friends,’ are not to be harmed for the duration of this fight and I ask that they have the same respect.”
“You have my word,” he shouted back.
“General,” she bellowed.
From a sideway ally a heavily armed warrior with a helm that concealed his face entered and took up stand. “Our duel will now begin on my mark,” he shouted for all to hear. “Champion Quariomy?” She gave him a nod and then he said, “Champion Igneous?”
“Ready,” he said as he withdrew one sword and his shield holding it out towards Quariomy.
“Brigade! Skirmish Formation!” At his command the encircling warriors raised their shields creating a wall insuring that no participant would try to escape. The general shifted his eyes from one to the next and with his horn shot off a white signal and retreated and joined the ranks of the his fellow warriors.
As Quariomy began to lower her head and take more of a fighting stance she said, “I will be the wielder of the blade of your death.” Igneous studied her as she did the same with him. “Before the edge makes way through flesh there will be a confession of truth,” setting one blade to her side she set the next broadside across her face just below her eyes. 
As he raised his shield just below his face with his sword high above his head he saw that from this distance that something wasn’t quite right. It was only a feeling, but that's all it ever is, a feeling. “A confession of truth?” he said not moving, continuing to study her. “What are you a mystic?” Steady gaze, unmoving, confident, strong. ‘Ambitious,’ was his thought.
“No,” she simply said. “I am far more real than even your greatest desires.” She took one step closer, one which Igneous mirrored closely. “I require one look… just one.” She flattened the blade she held before her face giving her eyes a deeper dimension Igneous felt all too much.
A few moments more and Igneous having been tired of the wait fainted a great thrust attack. even from his distance, flipping the sword back into its position having only decreased the distance by some. She did not flinch, nor move. None aggressive, highly reactive. She was waiting, and with ambition patients was not unheard. It was clear to Igneous that he would have to make the first move otherwise this would last for days. “Right then,” he said preparing himself. “Seeing this is how it will be let me project my next attack.” After all it's what she wanted so why not give it to her.
He closed the distance marching up to Quariomy with shield raised and sword ready till he was just out of striking distance. Tho it seemed reckless, for the most part Igneous was not careless. 
Suddenly he closed the short distance flicking his sword down leaving almost no time to react. Quariomy effortlessly raised her sword blocking it as she jumped backwards dodging a shield bash from Igneous. Darting back and forth she ran around at high speeds and lunged back at Igneous were as he bounded out of the way getting his thrust attack deflected while also blocking the next attack.
She attacked again while he did a partial retreat only for him close the distance tackling her with his shield. He jumped back as she swiped at his hooves which allowed her to scramble back up to her hooves. Were as she got rushed again and knocked back down to the ground.
Faised Igneous stepped down on one of her swords, blocked a parried a swipe and bashed her face with the shield. She tried to roll away but was met with another blunt attack from his shield. “Who taught you to fight?” Igneous shouted as he delivered another blow. “Your sloppy, over confident. How dare you challenge a fully trained falconer.” Looking down on his work she seemed to be incapacitated only giving him a glazed look as she lay on the ground covered in mud. He backed up a bit and said, “fool me for a second.” he flipped his sword holding it by the blade in his magical grip and said, “Let me draw out your true power.” His shield dropped as he raised his the blade intending to quarter stroke her face, and in an instant he mercilessly brought it down with all his might.
To flinch would be a mistake. In an instant Quariomy raised her only sword blocking the attack and as she spun to her hooves she summoned a long sword and bring it around to the undefended Igneous plunged it straight for his chest.
With Igneous looked away in defence Quariomy stared deep into his eyes as the sword continued its trajectory. For that instant Igneous felt robbed by her gaze alone. Something inside shifted, felt disturbed. He felt like an open book just by her and he never once in that instant felt helpless. The moment passed and Quariomy looked down to see her dark blade had not penetrated his armor but instead was held at bay by an Identical sword to the one blocking her existing blade. “You think I'm carless?” he asked knowing she had forgotten the second blade at his side.
She looked back up to him past the blades locked in defence and smiled. “I have your confession.” Leaning in closer she said, “I thought your name was redundant.” Faster than Igneous thought she could manage, she disengaged dropping her existing blade taking only her dark summon with her holding it in mouth. Holding it in the air again once she gained some distance with mud clearly coating her armor and fur. “Now let's try again, properly this time. Mabie this time I will get your full confession... Kohligan.”
Igneous twitched having heard the name. With indignation he connected the hilts of his sword making them one. Picking up his shield he said, “You shouldn’t toy with your prey less you expect to go hungry.”
“Only your cornered,” she said as she slowly began to circle around him with nothing but a glistening dark longsword she pointed away and two the air slightly dragging behind her. “So, all the more to be weary of your animalistic fury?”
He looked down to her dropped sword, as he held his own weapon above his head with his shield held out front. “Animalistic,” he scoffed as he carefully planned his next move. “I prefer the term predator...” He noted her second dropped blades position. “Because,” looking up to her he smashed the shield down on the tip of her dropped sword flinging it into the air and as he batted it straight for Quariomy he shouted, “I am a hunter!”
She darted out of the way and as she charged she saw Igneous flip around and pick up her dropped sword holding it by his teeth and a split second later they clashed.


> Chapter 8 The Champion
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	For the first time he had escaped her and she leaned up against the wooden wall of a household to protect her backside while she collected herself. This Falconer. How very talented. She had not seen him use any form of magic and still even with her greater speed and few summons she still can’t out do him. How very rare it was to see such an aggressive fight last more than two minutes, it astonished her.
His fighting style was alien to her. He wielded two swords connected at the hilt along with a shield and her stolen sword he held in between his teeth. The many times that thing scratched her armor, it was a mistake to lose it but it's comes at a great loss to lose a summon hence why she chose to salvage it from immediate combat instead. He was well trained, no doubt, and sparing of how many objects he would lift at once. But only two? Surly he was holding back just as she was. Must explain why why he faints some attacks.
Holding back but still winded. However she would quickly accumulate her stamina and locate Igneous and beat him out once and for all. Her warriors needed sanctuary and closure. She hated to see them so lost and just the thought of having them witness her defeat… it just won't happen. 
For now she wielded her dark longsword and existing straight sword she salvaged after the initial engagement. The road she occupied was clear along with the houses and buildings across from it. If not for herself than for Istudious itself.
Just as she was about to peel off the woodwork a blade pierced the wooden wall just above her and not a moment later a shield shattered the wall to splinters. When the wall collapsed he look to see Quariomy had retreated to the far side of the road.. Taking a deep breath she said, “I'm impressed, you're very light on your hooves.”
He did not bother answering as he still held the blade she dropped in his mouth. He sorely wished he had some sort of ranged attack because hauling all of this equipment over the battlefield was a burden but then again it's what he lived by. Tilting the shield on its side he was able to see Quariomy herself as he began spinning his double edge sword above his head.
Not letting his guard down he began to circle around her thinking of his next approach. He could not take any risk he wouldn't bother putting his skill to the test at summoning his lost swords as he still felt incapable of it. He had a fine defence and very good offence and changing his tactics now came with very high risk with a comparatively low reward.
If he kept this effort up sooner or later he would win out, so long as she does not enact any light or alchemy magic. Or just excessive dark magic.
He lounged for an attack and she darted out of the way avoiding a windmill of attacks. Keeping his shield to her he attacked again and again she retreated back. He repeated this process two more times before he came to the realization that she was just going to run him dead. Frustrated he spat out the sword and said, “Is that it? Is this the power of Istudious? Bound to cowardliness? Where is your chivalry? Courage? Fight!”
Staring her down as she stood down the street with warriors and their walls far behind she said, “tis a tactic but to fight? To be unrelenting? I can. And if you so wish then let there be no further word.” He watched as a mist began to form and to his horror took the shape of an exceedingly large great bow she held flat above her head with a great arrow matching in size being drawn back. “Dark magic,” she said as she fired her first shot.
Abandoning the stolen sword he dived out of the way seeing the ground just next to him erupt at the massive collision of the great arrow hitting it. Another discharge of the bow and Igneous sent himself running into the shelter of another wooden building just as pieces of the wall shattered at another shot fired.
He looked to the entrance to see if she might follow but to his utter surprise another shot pierced the wall behind him giving him little time to roll out of the way. He raised his shield having no other alternatives to act and upon impact the dark summon great arrow pierced halfway through knocking the shield out of Igneouses area of influence and crashing through the wall on the far other side of the building.
He now only held his two swords which he eagerly disconnected from one another just as another shot came in from a different direction which he swiftly dodged. With splinters flying everywhere the already terrible structural degradation of the building was beginning to deteriorate even worse. Not only that but it was clear that from the fourth shot she was darting around the building fring very accurate blind shots at him.
With another wood splintering great arrow flying nearly missing Igneous and smashing a bearing load to nothing causing the building to collapse. With one great lunge he jumped out the front opening just as the debris came crashing down only to find his armor charged by a large war hammer that sent him flying down the street and lose concousnes.
How hard it's been. The arguing with the nobles the constant debates over resource management and repadative arguments that ran round and round only to find themselves back where they started. Thinking they could overwhelm the young prince with extensive terminologies and long explanations on exactly nothing. If it wasn’t for Maces fathers assistants reminding Igneous that they were merely advisors and that anything he says goes without question then none of the preparations he set would have begun.
It wasn’t without hard work still and again he found that when dealing with ponies they always hold on thing in mind. To covet and protect, to covet and steal, to covet and kill and to covet on conquer anything in sight. How trivial he found it all only wanting more, only protecting your small mound of fire, embracing its warmth only to find it's just not enough and eventually become consumed entirely by the items and ideals of which they own and hold far too dear.
Igneous never wanted much but just this little idea that he could help in a much greater way… and they just never saw it. To his bore he found they would often time look down on him. No wonder he escaped, ‘this place is shackling.’ he would often times think.
But then on his off times his mind would wonder and far away he would find himself. Back in Carridian back in the fortress the traitor, his father, his friends, the scares the emotions. It all came crashing in and he felt naked without his armor and insufficient without his weapons. The hoof steps of the manny as they walked idly by the constant chatter of the civilians it all felt like a torrent of white noise and he felt terrified.
“Are… You okay?” said a concerned voice tearing him away from his consuming stupor.
Looking up he found just who had felt so concerned as to ask. It was a pegasus mare finely dressed but could be considered none outstandish considered the crowed they were amidst. Going unclothed would garner more attention in this state anyways. Finding his voice but still lacking the proper tongue to speak his first word he clumsily said, “urm fine. Fine, I'm fine.” For Igneous all he wore was a metal collar which curved in an elegant patern like an inlustration of a priteen flowervine, however it was purly for style and not meant for protection.
This mare had come up to him from even as they were surrounded by other ponies. Igneous was sitting at a table outside of a shop ‘enjoying’ the shade and a soft drink going about his day when he had a subconscious episode. With the same concern she said, “Are you sure you look very i'll.”
Rubbing his forehead with his hoof he said, “I'm sorry, I'm fine. Truely.”
Clearly seeing he wasn’t she spread a wing and softly rubbing it on his face she said, “What's this?” Igneous hadn't even noticed himself but when she pulled her wing back there on her delicate little feather was a single glistening tear drop. “Your crying?”
Quickly he rubbed both eyes wiping away anything that might have remained and said, “I'm so sorry it's not like me, really. I should go now, sorry.”
He began to walk away leaving his drink and as he pushed past small crowds of the elite and past a group idle royal guards who seemed to be drinking he heard the same mare call back, “wait.” 
When she caught up to him she stopped him with a wing. “I'm really sorry,” he said again turning to her.
“Why do you keep apologizing?” she asked. The question threw him off guard and before he could answer she said, “You’ve done nothing wrong.”
Clearing his throat he said, “Sorry I…” Him saying it again caused her to giggle and he said, “I’ll stop.”
“No, please don’t, I find it very favorable,” she replied. “It's just that not many ponies round here do apologise.”
“It’s always he said she said?”
“Exactly, Erm… sort of...” Looking at this stallion again she found that he was still a little distraught. Nervous or uneasy. It could have been her sudden pressants but she didn’t just want to be known as a stranger, especially after him being so nice. It would only be kind to repay this little debt. “May I ask, what is your name?” She found it took him some time to find his answer but when he did she couldn’t help but smile, “You mean like a rock?”
His ears flattened with slight embarrassment and he mildly said, “yes…”
“I didn’t mean to cause you and your drink any bother, ‘Igneous,’ but would it be fine if accompany you on another? As friends of course. Please?” She herself wasn’t quite sure how to ask and was nervous he would say no having only just met her a minute ago but to her surprise he actually agreed.
“Let me walk you back,” he said leading her back down the path and through the crowds he previously led her through. Finding his table with his drink still rested there she sat down after he pulled the seat out for her and he took his soon after.
Igneous wasn’t sure how to go about this situation having already recognised it was a date. He’d never done this before, what was he supposed to talk about. This was probably the first moment he found himself completely socially awkward not knowing where to start or where to go. That could come mostly because of his situation but what is he to say? That he is a falconer? That he is the prince of Noriphmy? He didn't want to overwhelm her, but acting as a gawking mute wouldn't help either...
...So he had to go somewhere with the conversation. Perhaps he would wait for her to spark a topic and then fly off from there going on a myriad of topics gleefully bounding across the sky and eventually ending on the disagreement of politics or something. Not quite where he wanted to go but if anything he knew not to start of with the word, ‘so.’
She said, “I didn’t mean to bother you I hope this is not a chore.”
‘What did Joel mean by fishing?’ “It's not,” he said waving a hoof. “You may have actually saved me from my own self.”
“What do you mean?”
“It's complicated,” he answered. “All I will say is thanks.”
“Were you always like this? Whats wrong?”
“No not every day,” he said forgetting to make eye contact. “But I have been for a long long time. When I was a little more than just a colt, but a colt nonetheless.”
“What happened?” she asked worriedly. Then raising her hooves to her mouth she said, “Did your mother die?” When Igneous looked back up to her and she saw the look in his eyes knew, she was hitting on a sensitive subject. “It's my turn to apologize, I did mean to…”
Finding it easier to speak he said, “it's not your fault. It's only natural to be curious.”
As many ponies walked through the street paying no attention to the two she said, “We don't need to talk if it makes you feel all the more comfortable,” she said. “It's a glorious day,” she said raising her hooves to the sky as she looked up. Igneous could see her outlining the sun with her hooves and she said, “beautiful, beautiful sunlight. How refreshing. We can simply enjoy each others company making it all the better,” she said looking back down to him. “That is if you don’t have any other place to be?”
Thinking as he looked down at the table he said, “Not any place I would, ‘rather,’ be.” It's not like he would like to be silently persecuted by the nobles. “Today is as good as any,” he said.
Igneous then got nudged by a passerby who didn’t seem to care all that much and when she saw his mild frustration she asked, “not fond of crowds?”
“As beautiful a day it is... yea, not exactly.”
“We can go to my place,” she said happily. “Its very quiet, I prommis. None of this hustle and bustle and business of the streets. Please?” She said giving him one pleading look.
He couldn’t help but smile at her juvenile self and he said, “You’ve been too kind. It would be very rude of me not too.”
“Thank you so very much,” she said as they both stood up. “I hate being alone on such brilliant days like today.”
“It's the least I can do,” he said as he followed closely by as they walked down the road together passing shops and ponies of all kind. But then one though passed his mind and he asked, “I’m sorry but I never got your name.”
Turning her head with a smile she said, “it's my bad. I never said. My name is Navinnia.”
He should have guessed since it's common amongst the high boasting to indow there fillies with a name that ended in an ‘ia’ meaning great or significant beauty. Even though her parents may have felt supreem at the time it was still her name and Igneous could easily admit it was very fitting for her.
To be briefly absent from this short life of torment was all Igneous really wanted, but alas he was in dire straights and you can’t just fall asleep and forget the problems of the world. To solve them one first needs to wake up. Igneous opened his eyes to find himself lying on his side surrounded by buildings torchered by the elements and looking past the mound he laid his eyes on Quoriomy who seemed to be head of her war hammer which was as bulky as the head of an ox and she said, “Hm, what a shame. I expected to hit you with the spiked end of my hammer. Instead I summoned the flathead into existence first.” Rotating it in the air so that her swing matched that of the spiked end she said, “no matter I will fix my mistake.”
Igneous at this point found his armor where he had been hit was loose suggesting sirous crackage. Not yet broken but should not be tested against a simple blade all the same. He was weaponless and as he looked around he found he double edged sword lay between him and Quariomy who was slowly marching up to him.
Unable to fully pick himself up due to his sustained injuries he still attempted to scramble to his weapons even as his hooves poorly gripped and slid through the mud as he tried to heave himself forward causing pain but not on the same caliber of that when he stood. “Oh Igneous,” she said as she calmly walked forward paying little attention to his desperate play. “I thought my victory would be won through superior power. Instead I find myself sorely disappointed.” She was closing in on his sword much more efficiently than his weakened body was. “Instead today was won through creative play.”
Igneous felt the blades presents within his area of influence and when he went to lift it he found Quariomy hoof press boldly down upon the blade pinning it beneath her weight. Looking up to her he weakly grinned and said, “are you going to kill me?”
Without a word she simply smiled and before all the warriors present she raised her war hammer high into the air and brought the spiked end down on Igneous. In that moment every warrior cheered drowning out the cries of his peers as the spike penetrated the strong side of his armor gouging down deep into his flesh. He let out a cry of pain as Quariomy violently heaved it out of his fleshy hold and took a new stance over him.
As Igneous heaved heaved in pain his face was bashed sideways by the flat end of her hammer and as he raised his hooves in a futile effort to block the next attack the same flathead easily broke through hitting him again and again all the while the warriors roared in excitement and the display of Quariomys viciousness towards him.
Barely able to move he watched as she winded up one last blow and landed it in the center of his chest bursting the armor he wore shattering it to the land and sending him a short distance away breathless, but still alive.
He felt raw and deathly and when Quariomy stood above him again she lowered her head to the barely conscious Igneous she said, “Son of Kohligan… to think you were an imposter.” Barely registering a small tug on the back of his neck Quariomy salvaged a bright red gem imbued with a now broken necklace and holding it high into the air in her magical grip she shouted, “Son of Kohligan! Prince... of Noriphmy!!!” Another roar from the warriors who were now slowly gathering around she looked back down to Igneous with the sights on this new found gem and said, “How will you dare decree? Life or death.” With barely even an utterance from the brutally beaten, bloodsoaked, broken and bruised Igneous, Quariomy heard and salvaged her answer. Loudly announcing she said, “The prince dares to decree death on the battlefield.” Letting the hammer vanish leaving only the long sword she balanced on her back she said, “To the brave and noble warriors of Istudious how wilt thou decree thy fate of our fair prince of Noriphmy?” Raising her sword high above Igneous pointed upwards she said, “Life?” Then pointing it down aimed to spear the prince she asked, “or death? Raise your weaponry in those who are in favor.”
Through the upheaval of cheers and thunderous voices each warrior raised a weapon weather it was blunted, bladed or speared. As they aligned their answers as the pegasus circled around the poll was final.
Igneous hardly able to move and short of breath saw Quariomy lower her blade but not for the blood of him but instead for relief as it soon vanished away and instantly he knew the results of his fate. “Life,” Quariomy shouted and as she looked down to Igneous and evil grin she said, “We will make it fitting for a prince. Bind him!” she ordered and Igneous instantly found himself being thrown into a world of pain as the warriors were careless to cause him pain as they wrapped cords around his hooves and silencing his cries of pain tying his mouth fast and shut only paying slight attention to his wound stopping the bleeding but not the pain. Never the pain.
Marching up to a small group of warriors staving off the small group of Falconers she said, “the skirmish is won. Go my now and tell Noriphmy of our conquest and bring forth the might of Noriphmy and its armies of blood. Again I must say we… don't kill messengers. You have one day. I am very impatent.”



> Chapter 9 No More Heroes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Conflicted Teams
2. Insipid Afflictions
3. A Great Failures
4. Oxinum

1.	The two teams of Falconers were at a standoff with the warriors who erected a strong wall of shields and blades that poked through the gaps between insuring Adridge herself couldn’t charge it and just above where pegasus that continued to circle never once landing insuring Lindestic or Kara couldn’t engage.
She had seen the fight, the beginning, middle, and horrific ending and now she watched as Quariomy past her warriors and listened as she made gave her and Igneouses team orders to deliver a message. But in one day? Getting to the capital would take more than a week even with no sleep.
But soon after Quariomy finished she then said, “However, there may be a way to liberate Igneous and many other lives.” She gestured with her hooves to bring the tied up Igneous over and Adridge watched in utter grief as they savagely dragged him through the dirt; hearing every screams bounded muffled screams of pain as every divet and tug of his binds caused him pure agony, and seeing the pain in his eyes as he tried to stay strong as he looked up to her made it all the worse. Quariomy tilted her head down and looked at him as if he were a specimen for study. 
“What is your proposition?” Oxinum asked stubbornly as he stood set ready to fire his crossbows at the slightest advancement of an attack.
Looking back up she looked past Adridge and straight to Oxinum and at the sight of her even he faltered in his stance. She then stood tall and asked, “do any of you happen to be an Oneirocritic?” She said nothing more and awaited an answer looking at the Falconer who exchanged slight glances in confusion and almost soon after she said, “That is a no. What a shame.” Resting a hoof on Igneouses punctured side releasing a heartbreaking, muffled cry from the stallion, she said, “Then our conditions will remain the same. One day.” For a long the falconers stood there even as more Warriors began to gather round filling the ground with armor and the skies with feathers. Quariomy then lost patents and said, “Right then.” 
Unsheathing her sword she raised it above Igneouses neck and brought it down. “NO!” Adridge said suddenly jolting forward in defence of Igneous which was only met with a surge of swords pointed outwards in defence of Quariomy who withheld the blade just before piercing his flesh. “We’ll go.” Looking back gesturing for the others to begin walking she again said, “we’ll go.”
As the others turned slowly turned around and backed away Adridge gave Igneous one last fleeting glance before running off with the others and written across his face she saw something she hadn't seen from him befor. 
Helplessness…
For hours they ran ceaselessly, recklessly. Even if there were monsters to be seen they were ignored as they tirelessly pursued the borders of Noriphmy however in half the time it took for them to get to the abandoned village they had already made it back to the mining village by nightfall. With heavy breath they came to a stop just above the ridge that looked over it. Still far away any ponies standing out in the open seemed like insects by comparison. Breathlessly she said, “We made it. Let's go quickly.”
She began to set off just as Floritha landed but as she did Oxinum said, “Shouldn’t we talk about this.”
“What?” she said looking back to him. He stood in the back by Floritha with Lindestic and Rechon near Adridge herself.
“Are you not the least bit concerned?” he said in a lowly voice. “Igneous is being held by those fiends and were here… wallowing.”
Adridge could clearly sense his frustration. “We are not wallowing we are-”
“Delivering a message? To whom? Them?” he said pointing to the village. “You really think they would believe us or do you just expect to run to the capital in one night?”
“We need to send the message otherwise-”
Again he interrupted Adridge and said, “Do you really, really think the knowledge of Istudious would make a difference.” He shook his head and aggressively said, “Look. Look! You really think Noriphmy is capable enough to sustain a war? You think the royal guard is going to come and save us, those incapable dunces?”
“What are you suggesting?” Adridge said as she began to retort. “Nothing? That we just let the tide of war wash over all of Noriphmy covering every corner of it till there is nothing left?”
“Again it's all the same. Look at us. Were falconers,” Oxinum bleekly said.
“No,” she argued. “Today we are warriors.”
“Were Falconers!” He shouted, “Igneous was a Falconer! He fought as a Falconer and we left him.” He took a few steps forward and in the presence of his aggression Rechon made his advancement on him in his loyalty to Adridge. Suddenly Oxinum deployed his crossbows letting them spring up at his side and he stared Rechon down as he took a steady stance. “Stand down,” he said not faltering his gaze with his gaze alone freezing Rechon in his tracks. “Or I will insure I stay a falconer longer than you.” Looking to the rest out of the corner of his eyes he said, “Tis the first rule of Falconering: Never leave another behind. So easily forgotten, just look at us. I'm going back, and I'm going to save Igneous if it's the last mission I enroll myself.”
Steadily backing away Adridge said, “We're going to warn Noriphmy, and were going to do it swiftly.”
“It's hopeless,” he said. “Even with the all the falconers and royal guards in the nation fighting on the front, it's still so very hopeless.”
“So is the liberation of Igneous.”
“I gave up hope once… I'm never doing that again.”
As he began to walk backwards away from them with his crossbows still drawn Kara said, “I'm coming with you.” Just as he looked to her she said, “there's no convincing me otherwise. A falconer never goes alone.”
When Oxinum and Kara finally departed Adridge looked back to her team who both seemed unsure of the situation. Speaking clearly she said, “Our plans still stand. Rechon you are to run to the north onwards and warn the ponies there, and Lindestic you are to fly south onwards and… What's that,” she said gesturing to his wing.
Only slightly opening it he said, “it's the bird. You remember.”
She didn’t remember as the previous events clouded everything that wasn’t relevant at the time. “Did you run the whole way here?”
“I did,” he answered.
“I need you to fly Lindestic.”
“I can run,” he said. “I am well abled and-”
“No, I need you to fly,” she suddenly snapped throwing Lindestic off.
“Adridge?”
“Give me that,” she said stepping forward. He tried to intervene by twisting his body side ways so she couldn’t grab the bird but instead she lifted his bladed feathers causing the still blinded bird to fall to the ground rapidly flapping its wings as unknown panic griped its tiny mind.
“Adridge stop,” he pleaded trying to stand over it.
“Move!” she yelled as she shoved the larger stallion off using her dark armor as leverage sprawling him onto the floor.
“Adridge please, I can run,” he said as he quickly tried to pick himself back up, but when he looked he saw she had already drawn her sword and had raised it above her head. He yelled and in a moment had covered the bird with the armaments of his wings but when her blade came crashing down it held true to its strength, but his wing. So frail had been snapped were her blade had struck and in short time he passed out from sheer pain alone.
Adridge looking at what she had done, the bird still panicking, Lindestic slightly bleeding Rechon staring in shock at what he just witnessed his two most trusted friends do. She fell back on herself dark armor, black cape and all.
She looked to the village, how peacful they seemed as night wanders trod about the street unaware of everything. Of Igneous, of the Istudians, of them and the ensuing danger. Igneous intended for them not to know but was that really the best options. Do they deserve to know and at least stand to protect their livelihoods. Surely he would have thought so.
It was her call what happened next as Lindestic lay unconscious, and the consequences soon after were hers to bare. 

E2	Igneous had been effectively bound and tied down. His catalyst had been set with a ring made of the dust used to forge binding stones effectively stopping him from performing magic. They kept him in a tent which was one of many they put up for the night.
Taking turns one after the other warriors would come in spouting their hatred for his lineage and leave soon after. During a few selected rants a few warriors boasted of how they were building a grand mount fit for a prince. Fit for Igneous. A claim backed up by the sounds of craftsmen hard at work. Warriors would enter and later leave wilse another would enter taking post to verbally assault Igneous and trade out once again following the same trend till the night took hold of weariness. Igneous never answered not in part of stoic acceptance but because he was far too weak. Severely injured with a wound held together loosely by light magic. His face and maw was raw from the severe beating he took from Quariomy and her war now infamous ‘prince slaying flathead.’ A title that needed work as he could hear the warriors idly discussing titles for the now famed weapon.
His swords had been taken, his shield broken, his armor shattered, his magic bound. He had nothing. No alternative but to cooperate and come what may. Late into the night when he thought no other Istudian would bother his hunch was proven wrong when he heard the rattling of mail and clacks of plated armor as one more character entered, and unlike the rest, was alone. 
“Prince of Noriphmy,” his voice rumbled. He recognised the tune. The voice of the general who directed the duel. Now he himself come to greet Igneous in the flesh. Igneous rolled his head over lacking the strength to lift it only glancing at his beholder. General Horace. Leader of the Istudian army. And with a stark grin he pulled a knife and advanced in indignation. Standing over Igneous he slowly pressed the edge of the blade against the side of Igneouses face were as he closed his eyes in meger defence.
Against his frail, bruised skin the blade threatened to tear away at his flesh. He gasped in pain and helplessness.
“You know not the fury of the Istudians warriors,” he growled. “One mark will suffice. One cut.”
Just as his blade completely bore into him, the general, his name was called. Loud amidst the sea of relatively tranquil silence, it made even the most stern of patrols jump in sudden agitation. “General Horace!” Opening his eyes, he looked passed the hooves of Horace to see Quariomy standing beneath the folds of the tent entrance. 
Horace stood in attention hiding the blade putting it back in its scabbard tucked neatly between his satchel that hung at his side and the protective plating he wore. Stepping forward away from Igneous he fully presented himself to the princess with a chin held high.
Stepping forward she carefully eyed the general staring him directly into the eyes as he looked slightly upward towards the sky avoiding her glance. Speaking slowly and very carefully she said, “As to what are you doing? Affiliating with a prisoner of war?”
“No your highness,” he answered with the slightest of nervous cracks in his voice. “I was-”
“Look me in the eyes,” she commanded. She stood so near that when Horace lowered his chin he had to pull his neck back as to not accidentally nuzzle her. How embarrassing. Igneous watched as they locked gazes but only for an instance. Standing up to this taller Stallion she then broke eye contact peering over his shoulder to Igneous. Stepping past Horace she rounded him pulling his concealed knife effortlessly examining it as she circled the stallion faintly nervous but nervous nonetheless. “As to what did I command you to do?” she asked never taking her eye away from the blade.
“Account for all the warriors of the third brigade your highness,” he said ceasing to skip a beat. “Take stalk of weapons, armor, food supplies and equipment.” he came again. “Post guards perform a perimeter check review battle plans and report back to you.”
“Now tell me,” she said with the same calm stoic voice as before, still circling like a wolf toying with its prey. “Have you counted every head of the third brigade?”
“Yes my princess,” he immediately answered.
“Did you take stalk of supplies?”
“Yes my princess.”
Igneous already knew she knew the answers to each oncoming question.
“Did you post guards, check the perimeter and review the battle plans?”
“Yes, my princess.”
“Now,” she said coming around to the front of him still toying with the blade as she spoke. “Were you, and this, may have slipped my mind, but were you to affiliate with the prisoner?”
“...no. My princess.”
“What were your intentions,” she said breaking orbit continuing forward directly in front of Horace.
He hesitated. Swallowed, then said, “My princess... I cannot lie-”
“To make a MARK!!!” Horace’s head cocked to the side and the blade buried itself within the dirt before Igneous. Looking up he saw the all too familiar crimson blood drip from Horace’s face. Horace swallowed deeply but still remained unmoving from his place. Walking past Horace she paused in her stride and said, “You are to not purge this scare. You’re fortunate I don't feed you to the champion. Let it remind you of this transgression.” Then she hissed, “Out of my sight.”
“Yes my princess,” said he, obeying her wish, leaving without a word or a knife.
Igneous fell under the gaze of Quariomy were as he could only look without lifting his head due to lack of energy. “Only hours remain Igneous,” she said. “This war will be fought with ferocity and triumph. Mark my word it will rival that of the first hundreds of years ago.” She turned to leave but before she disappeared Igneous to the best of his ability commanded her to wait though it was more of a breathless grunt she understood. Answering she said, “and what is it my dear prince?”
He had to tell her. It's what she deserved. Her warriors wanted blood but not the blood of the innocent that much was clear but the blood of the honorable and the blood of the worthy. She wanted an epic war were two armies would clash, weapons swinging, arrows flying, bodies writhing, ponies dying.
Every warrior weather this warrior hailed from Noriphmy, Istudious or Freath, they followed a word of honor. After the barbaric first war were any living bodie was fair game any laborer was fit for death, Carridian, the successor to the invader, conqueror, and king Kordan Verex. Carridian decreed that if there ever be a war weather it was between two villages or whole Nations that the warriors represented may slay only those of arms and weaponry. Warrior, militia or roge all of which fit for the blade but neither a farmer logger or minner my dare have his hide slickened by the blade of an attacker.
There was no other war but the warriors themselves longed and thirsted for battle tirelessly slaying thieves and bandits for hundreds of years. Maybe if he told her now he would suffer the ensuing wrath. It was only the polite thing to do. So with the best of his greatest respects undercut by his sheer weakness he said, “Noriphmy... has no armies...” (Boi thats very articulate)



C4	There he stirred and Adridge came back to attention as she patently sat nearby. Lindestic slowly came to opening his eyes to the darkened room with moonlight that poured in through the shudders and crags of the wall providing thin streams of visibility.
He pushed himself up in the cot he laid in as he finally came to. His wing bandaged his armor removed, his gauntlets and bladed feathers taken. Guiltily Adridge said, “I'm, sorry Lindestic.” He didn’t answer. Just then there was a flurry of excitement and Adridge held up both hooves saying, “It seems some one’s excited to see you.” It was the Cardinal bird with eyes that still remained shut. He looked outside pulling down the shutters with his hoof for a better view. The sight wasn’t savory. Adridge sitting quietly said, “I told them Lindestic. They had a right. They know of what's to come.”
Ponies ran through the streets while others bore armor obviously having never been in proper battle. Carrages did their best to leave though the masses with as much as they owned packed on the back with colts and fillies worriedly sitting atop the mass waiting to leave just as much as their parents who pulled it. Shopkeepers rushed to take down their stalls places of business flooding the streets with carts of their own. Lines just short of a mile long flooding out of the village.
The ones who were armored feverishly drank to drown out their better senses to run. Some were perfectly sober having taken a vow to protect the village they lived in for years. All were unorganised, none could claim leadership. Slowly he let the blinds pull pack up to their places sparing Lindestic from the saddening view. A threat greater than even than that of a dragon driving them from their homestead. “Where's Rechon,” he asked leaning back into his cot.
“Spreading the word,” she replied. “Deep into Noriphmy.”
“You're aware of why Igneous had said not for you to do that,” he said slowly shaking his head, staring at nothing as he glared at the ground. “For this very reason. They take to arms now. May lack the qualities of a formidable threat but one to be exterminated by the armies of Istudius regardless.”
A moment later he began to hear the sounds of whimpering. He looked over to Adridge to see this dark armored smaller mare begin to start crying and he knew why. She had scarcely spoken of how terrifying being the leader of a group of friends is especially when your decision could get them all killed. Only now she made one on a much grander scale.
It was a hard decision were not deciding still was in and of itself, a decision that would cost the lives of thousands if not hundreds of thousands. She made her call however hard it was and now she just couldn’t bear the potential repercussions of her actions. To let them possibly be killed while they slept or to give them a chance to fight putting them in a position to be rightfully killed. “I’m sorry Lindestic.” Lips trembling, tears streaming, body quivering. This was the first time Lindestic ever saw Adridge herself, a beacon of hope to manny. Often a proud symbol of protection to the little ones, a living body of defence, begin to so shamelessly cry. Right there and then. “I’m so sorry,” she said tears spilling down her face as she softly let the bird down on the floor before she too fell in her emotionally ridden state. Laying on the ground in tears, udderly vulnerable like never before. It sickened Lindestic to see her like this.
This wasn’t the Adridge he knew. This wasn’t the Adridge he ever saw. This wasn’t the Adridge that stood against beast of all kinds, combated bandits of any number, who saved countless villages and villagers. The Adridge who saved Igneous the unbenounced prince of Noriphmy himself so long ago since before princehood. This might have well been a stranger, a different beast altogether. He wanted Adridge back, the village needed her. In their desperate time of need as the melita took up arms serving as the only line of defense to an otherwise defenceless Nation.
It wouldn’t be long before all of Noriphmy knew and most of which may put their own lives on the line in fear of their livelihoods justifying their slaughter. “Stop,” he said gently. “Please stop crying.”
“I'm sorry Lindestic,” she said. “It's too much. Its simply too much.”
He scooped the bird off the ground with his good wing softly tucking it into his side. He kneeled down next Adridge still moping unable to come to terms with herself, completely ripped, her black cape draped across the floor. He said, “Adridge. Those stallions and mares out there. They suit themselves in armor and bare up swords, clawed gauntlets and fixed weaponry. They long to fight for their village but have not a right and proper leader to guide them.” Art of the word. Worked thrice on three separate occasions and intended a fourth in this moment. Encourages all, gives strength to any. Even a scared broken leader. “Take up your curved sword. Honer this cape like always. Remember the days you were a filly that fateful snowy day. Honer the memory of the wrongfully condemned falconer. The one who saved your very life, many, years, ago. Qudake Hongarious.”

B3	Adjusting his armor, rattled his crossbows, shook off the sweat and dirt buried within his fur and mane as Oxinum continued forward beneath the cooling sun signifying the change of a season. Floritha too as her metal made hoofs strided on after the other over the dirt terrain. She so very badly wanted to talk some sense into her friend but knew the cause, she knew his nature. Self worth of himself.
Manny months ago he was completely helpless as he watched Dettetcheny die, was utterly powerless when he mistakenly killed his teacher and now again with his leader having been captured he had the sense that he could avert yet another loss. Only she knew and he refused to see how helpless it was.
For many more miles they treked through woods and plains when a he abruptly stopped. Looked to him in concern. “Oxinum?”
Meekly he said, “Call me by my real name Floritha. For what I’ve put you through. You deserve it.” He patted the dirt he stood on lightly tossing aside the soil. “We will wait here hide ourselves beneath the leaves and bushes. Infiltrate their ranks as they travel. Rescue Igneous soon after.”
Only one dilemma with two unattainable solutions. “Oxinum,” his ears flicked up. “There is no armored warrior of Istudious who doesn’t bear a catalyst or is without wings. We don’t even bare their armor.”
“I know,” he said as he begun to shudder. “I know, I know, I know.” And sadly began to weep.  With shakiness in his breath he uttered, “Those... Dafted unicorns…” His eyes illuminated with ferocity and in his maw he kept safe a cylinder. The explosive end of an explosive wooden bolt. “I will make them pay.”


> Chapter 10 Invasion on Noriphmy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Inescapable
2. Infiltration
3. Last and Only Front
4. Deluged Assassin
5. Allegiances

1.	‘Bright, lovely day.’ Yea, now that he thought about it Igneous could really appreciate the outside weather as he strode alongside Navinia who seemed happy just to be in his company, walking down the brick work that guided them through a pleasantly garden area on the far outer parts of the Capital of Noriphmy.
The garden had high grown trees with nice shady canopies that were infested with healthily green vines that some gardener of Noriphmy may have gone through the trouble of laying them from one tree to the next connecting them all in a vast network of green vestigial. The base of each tree was lined with thick green edges which too had flowers of all variety; breed and color, growing at the base of them. The outskirts was bordered with high growing hedges trimmed corner to corner, well kept and tended to as often as possible.
The path they walked was one of many that often times forked off in different directions to give plenty of alternatives routes of travel and in the very center was a lake with a small inflow and outflow leading in and out of the garden all together. The lake was clear as always with fish that swam duly around and ducks and geese that occupied much of their time there. All around ponies and stallions sat walked or just purely enjoyed there time there weather it was with a lover, family or friend. This was a place for the community; never was a political affair settled here.
Igneous could easily admit he too was enjoying his time with her as they idly talked. She seemed exceedingly happy, often times skipping over cracks in the ground playfully kicking her hooves around as she did so. Igneous had already acquired a list of some things she liked and that was nature, reading and self expression amongst other things which Igneous never quite thought was a hobby. However it's not like he didn’t, ‘self express,’ his blade all over a bandit or beast if that's she meant.
For the time however she was just finishing up a story she was telling and it ended with, “and that's why Cachur is…” she got cut off when a little filly ran up to her with a worried face and hooves that didn’t cease to frantically tap the ground in her panicked state. “Ow what is little filly?” she asked politely, lowering her head to her.
“I-my kitty Cappershy, she's stuck in a tree.” she said pointing a hoof in the direction Igneous and Navinia were already planning on heading.
“Aw your little cat got stuck,” she caringly asked. “Where is it?”
“O-over here miss.” she hurriedly ran leading them there.
Navinia turned to Igneous with a smile and said, “Common we can help.”
So Navinia then ran after the filly at a steady pace leaving Igneous to do the same as passers by looked them oddly at their informality, but they allowed it because the pair was young and free. Coming to the base of the tree she pointed upwards saying, “Up there she’s up their.” Then looking up to the cat who seemed to just be relaxing on the branch she said, “Cappershy come down please? I got help for you it's okay now!”
“Is that your cat?” Igneous asked as he arrived on the scene.
“Yes,” she pouted. “But I want the pretty pegasus to get it ‘cause she can fly.”
Igneous felt a little insulted. He could easily get that cat down with a well placed spear. Navinia simply laughed and said, “thank you little one. I’ll get your furry little friend down in no time.” The cat didn’t seem like it wanted to come down and seemed perfectly content with relaxing there forever, however Navinia’s wings began to flutter and she slowly lifted herself into the air coming in closely to carefully handle the little cat in her hooves.
It may have actually been sleeping or ignoring every pony all together because the cat snarled and complained when Navinia wrapped her hooves around it. “Oh stop it you,” she said as she lowered herself back down to the ground carefully handing it off to the happy uplifted filly now smiling with glee as she smothered the cat in tight hugs and covered it with kisses. The cat bore one look on his face as he endured the torment and that was, ‘see what I have to deal with?’ or the other variant, ‘end my suffering.’
“Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou,” she said continuing to squeeze her furry cat.
“It's an honor,” Navinia said. “Really the pleasures all mine.”
“Thats a nice feline you got there,” Igneous said trying to be friendly and polite.
She gasped. “Do you wanna pet him?” She eased that cat forward. If it was complaining before it now took a hostile stance towards the stallion.
He waved a hoof, “no no there's no nee-” The cat lashed out with its clawed paws striking Igneous on the snout of his muzzle. Igneous threw his head pack as his hoof cupped his newly inflicted facial gashes. Instinctively he reached for the hilt of his sword wich his magical grip that wasn’t there.
“Oh Noo!!!” the little filly cried. “Bad Cappershy, bad kitty, bad,” she scolded, the cat not taking it's eyes of Igneous as it continued to hiss at him.
‘Cappershy,’ he thought. Shy being the suffix for cute. However Igneous thought that taffing cat was anything but.
Navinia came to his aid as he held his face low to the ground wincing at the deep precise cuts inflicted on his muzzle. “Igneous are you alright?” 
He opened his eyes removing his hoof only for a moment to see it was covered with blood. ‘That taffing cat,’ he thought.
“I'm so sorry,” the filly pleaded. “He didn’t mean it, I swear.”
Igneous nodded his head eyes held shut in grimace, hoof still pressing down. “It's ok, honestly.” ‘how come it's always the smaller cuts that hurt the most?’ he thought. ‘I got my chest cavity torn open by a dafted sword.’
“It's ok,” Navinia said nodding her off. “You can run along now I will take care of him. I promise he will be ok.” The filly offered up a few more apologies while also vouching for that cat at the same time. She then ran off feline in hoof. Rubbing Igneous on the shoulder she said, “It's ok. I’ll take you back to my place and remedy your injuries.” He nodded his head as she led him down the path as he dripped oozing droplets of blood as they walked by, eventually leaving the garden all together as bystanders gave them fleeting glances wondering what must have happened the stallion.
Navinia led him down the streets which consisted mostly of clothing parlors and different fashion designers specializing in separate articles of clothing. On owner of which criticized Igneous’es, ‘basic,’ look for only wearing an emblazoned collar and how some simple hooflings would really tasten up his look. Regardless they kept walking past Igneous still holding his face while Navinia assured him that his look was just fine as neatly trimmed as he was.
The pain in his snout eventually died down and he allowed himself to pull his blood dried, gooey hoof away for a moment before placing it back there in fear he might disgust Navinia. Plus if he did pull it away he also feared he might try rubbing it off on his fur coated chest making him look even worse than he already was.
From what he could gather she was leading him down south of the city where residential homes, if you could call them that, mostly resided following along the border of the capital itself North, west and south all together. However before they reached it they had to travel through some area that specializes in cooking most of which had outside parlors for citizens to sample on certain bits enticing them to enter the restaurant itself.
The smell was savory mind you, but in Igneous’es current condition they weren’t in the mood for food even if there was crisp bread, and cooked food, and whole meals with meat salads, corn and churnin, basically making this place a feasting ground for large groups of ponies which was how these restaurants tended to capitalized. It was all fine, ponies walked by, some sampled other savored but not these two as Navinia held in mind one mission and that was to guide Igneous to her home.
Suddenly a blade flashed in Igneouses field of view and he jolted his head jumping back. Heart beating and heavy in breath he accidentally ran himself into Navinia and when he looked again he saw that his attacker was not an attacker at all but a chief simply chopping meet with a cleaver as ponies gathered with hungered eyes.
“Igneous what's gotten into you?” Navinia asked concern.
Turning his head away he found he had accidentally ripped the dried blood clean from his face and was now bleeding anew. “Nothing I just… Nothings is all,” he said raising his hoof back up to cover the wound stopping the bleeding once again.
“It's ok Igneous honest,” she said kindly quick to forgive. “Let's just keep going. Were almost their.” She continued to guide him down the street but Igneous all the while, didn’t take his eyes off the cleaver. Not until they were well away from the area. Many times he would feel for the hilt of his sword with his magical grip only to keep finding that he was without.

2.	The night had passed and like promised Igneous was given a mount. A wooden thing terribly carved and uncomfortable that they strapped his legs to and tied down insuring he couldn’t dismount it. This wooden post more like, was mounted atop a cart and with it they marched onwards as he sat there blindfolded terribly uncomfortable.
He could hear the stomp of hooves the idle chatter of warriors some of which boasted of their strength and skill. Others question what they would even do after they captured and took hold of Noriphmy. It seemed all they longed for was battle with no plans afterwards but Igneous could tell, even if it was hidden behind the illusionary eyes of Quariomy that she had in place to be carried out in her victory. Whatever it might be it still terrified him but maybe he in some way got through to her.
As he they traveled there was a sudden spur amongst the ranks of the Istudians. Then somepony shouted, “He’s been shot!”
Wild thoughts ran through Igneouses head as who it was to be and as he did the Istudian warriors quickly took rank and again he heard the thud of a bolt burying itself into the armor of a target. He struggled against his cords trying to break free, trying to remove the blindfold just to see what was happening but his efforts were in vain.
There was an explosion followed up by wails of a selected warrior. “Overwhelm him!” came another command. He then heard a distant shout to faint to make out but it was furious and full of hatred. It ended when one final statement, again one Igneous couldn’t make out, then suddenly a second explosion rang out.
The next voice he heard was clear this time and a mare cried out, “DRAMIER!!!”
Igneouses heart raced as his head was flooded with thoughts. ‘Dramier? Dramier?!’ He thrashed with the cords tying him down trying now more than ever to escape as he shouted, “Dramier! Dramier Were Are You!!!” But was that the voice of Raillay too? Dramier and Raillay. It couldn’t be. It can’t be. Again and again he called out for there names all the while thrashing about when suddenly he was struck fast and struck hard on the head, most likely by the general himself for being disobedient.
“You choreographed this attack,” Horace stated as the fight completely left Igneous with new bruse and gash over his head which quickly stopped bleeding due some third party light magic. The last things he heard was Horace march off shouting for them to clean the mess up and throw the injured in the medical wagon.

3. 	They stood in wait egare, on the fritz. Most nervously tapped their hooves on the stone work as they waited. Adridge had ordered whoever was willing to fight into specific order. Earth pony were to hide in buildings and around entrances so that when they get charged they were to flank them with fixed weaponry. Unicorns were meant to be the live target tricking them into thinking the whole line of defence was present.
The pegasus were equipped with leather folds to wrap around their hooves while tying barbed wire to each end so they could wrestle in the skies seriously injuring any Istudious pegasus daring to make a dive while also avoiding their bladed gauntlets or retractable clawed gauntlets.
Their numbers were two hundred in all. Two hundred willing to stay behind, willing to fight. If she remembered correctly the Istudian army numbered about or near one thousand. Well armored, well weaponised and great military discipline. Something these commoners lacked. Simple forgers, miners and family stallions was all they were. They shouldn’t have to fight for their lives like this but, peace is something that has always been hard fought and it will continue so until the end of time. 
The armaments of any pony ranged from heavy metal jackets to leather suits meant to protect. While some did have actual armor they kept for many years most didn’t have the prized authentic battlewear, but still, anything would suffice. There were no walls only the remains of a tower that sat in its own rubble long ago having served its purpose.
Lindestic couldn’t fly so Adridge had him stay near her for his safety. The sun began to peek over the western horizon and with it came the sound of marching. 
“Wake up my dear prince,” Quariomy said pulling off his blindfold as his cart came to a stop and he slowly came to. He found that the sun was just coming up. He tried calling for her attention but his voice was too faint and if she did hear then she didn’t listen as she continued forward. She walked up to the front line of warriors standing in position well presented in their armor and equipment.
As Igneous looked around he found that he didn’t recognised the surroundings as this was a new area. This wasn’t the landscape of the village they had previously left from this was different altogether. Scenery differences aside Igneous still knew this was the boarder of Noriphmy and just over down the mound was a village. A rural one if he remembered south of the mining village. They must have adjusted corse while he was out making sure to strafe the border increasing their odds of landing upon a village. 
Quariomy pushed her way through the ranks and looked down at the village seemingly just beginning to wake up. She shook her head and said, “Igneous my prince I am disappointed in you. It appears you lied to me. I don't take kindly to liars.”
“Quariomy what do you see?” he pleaded. “Tell Me What Do You See Quariomy!”
Still looking over the village Quariomy’s body suddenly jolted and for a moment she stood there unmoving. Then the warriors standing in line would suddenly pull down or summon their shields briefly before hanging them back up and when Quariomy turned around he could see why.
Her armor, strong and reliable. Stuck an arrow protruding outwards. It didn’t pierce her hide nor did it cause her injury yet it was lodge in the plated metal. She looked past her warriors and to Igneous. Pulling the arrow out he looked to her and her gase said it all. “Quariomy,” he pleaded. “They weren’t supposed to know you were coming.” She shook her head. “Quariomy there scared. They just want to protect their home. This was not premeditated I swear. You need to listen.”
Arrows flew overhead fired by the unicorns of Noriphmy all the while the Istudian warriors continued to block them with their shields, lowering and raising them again when needed. The Istudian pegasus circled above ready to dive, and Quariom still gazing at Igneous turned her body sideways crushing the arrow in her magical grip. “General Horace,” she ordered.
Igneous heard a malevolent chuckle from the General as he strides past the tied down Prince flashing a wide evil grin and a scar still bored on his left cheek.
“Quaroimy please, listen,” Igneous cried. She took no notice.
“My princess,” Horace said with a bow.
“General,” she complimented.
Adridge and her fighters continued to wate. She saw them line the hillside that sat westward of the village but none of her fighters were ordered to engage. They were going to wait for the first move of the Istudians. The numbers seemed staggering and some of her comrades shifted nervously while others kept drinking with tear ridden eyes, fearful of what was to come. “Steady, steady,” she would say over and over. Still some vomited at the sight while other caressed family heirlooms in their magical grip, or around their neck with their hooves. Others would marvel at their swords so long ago wielded in battle, only to be wielded once more years later in their dire need on this soon to be infamous morning.
A new factor was introduced as wheel born constructs rolled themselves to the edge of the hill. Long barrel and very heavy looking with a slide that pointed upwards that held cylinder after cylinder five in total each with twenty of those constructs lining the hill. From the distance she could see but with her mind she could not tell what it was.
Those Istudian warriors did not charge instead they waited. For a signal or command? Again with those long barreled wheel born things waited on the hill side. There was a stir in the crowed of Noriphmians. A unicorn broke rank and retreated back, running past Adridge, dropping all his gear, wanting to live another day as he ran for his life far outside the village.
“Steady,” she came again to the now ever increasing nervousness of her peers. She looked again to see a new figure one not decked in armor but wearing cloth lined stealth gear with a cowl. He stood above his warriors unmoving looking to the skies southward.
Quariomy looked down on Horace as he bowed. “Your will is mine my princess,” he said with the greatest of respects. “What now will you have me do?”
“Quariomy Listen! Please!” Igneouses voice rang out as arrows continued to flyby. Some wooden other's dark summons leaving black streaks in their wake as they slowly dissipated through the air.
“You, my loyal battleborn warrior will lead this charge on Noriphmy.”
“No!” Igneous came again trying to intervene through word alone.
“Kill them all. Every battle ready soul alive. Coat your blades in the blood of Noriphmy.” She then turned to the ranks of Istudious. “Today will be a day of reckoning!” she bellowed for all to hear. “Those Noriphmains will know our pain, our sorrow for the many years they left us; abandoned and discarded to Carridain.” The warriors raised their weapons in cheer. “Those many years. The hardships. the trials, the betrayals, set on by them. Set on by the Nation of Noriphmy.” 
She pointed by drawing her sword and again the warriors cheered. “Many years they thought we were dead! That we were no more, eradicated from the great valley of Carridain! Brothers and sisters in arms, we have trodden these lands many months, many nights and many seasons. Our salvation is now, the recompense remains at our nation and instead, in its place… Destruction. Fury. Hatred. Anger, and now one that will be set forth this day anew… Bloodshed.” Again they cheered louder and with great might. “General Horace! Lead this charge. Command our weapons lead us to victory though the blood and bone of Istudious. The honor is all yours.”
Igneous tried to yell, tried to retort, only he was gaged by a warrior without word or command. His mouth now full of cotton fold, tied shut, hushing him silent.
“Yes my princes.” Turning to his army he raised a shield. “Warriors! Swords ready!” The warriors of Istudious simultaneously raised/summon a sword pointing it up towards the sky. 
Igneous thrashed and shouted but no pony listen, nopony cared.
“Warriors!” he addressed again. “Raise Your Shields!” Again instinctively they raised shields of all type three peaked, and tower shields. “Take Your Stance! Prepare To Charge!" They all fell back into running position. “Battle Signal!” A unicorn fired off two white lights high into the air. “Forward Rank!” One final, fateful word, “Charge!”
Adridge looked to the south. Two signals flew into the air and coming to the realization she immediately she took a combat stance. “Ready Yourselves!” she shouted, her makeshift resistance gingerly and hesitantly pointing their weapons, poorly lined, out of rank.
The unicorn wearing the cowl fired off two of his own and withdrawing a sword he raised it shouting one word so loud even Adridge heard it. It would be the last thing she heard. One word. “Fire.”
Suddenly there was explosions that erupted all over. Houses crumbled, streets erupted, brick masonry shattered and ponies cried out as they became obliterated by multiple blast. The line held for not a second more. The masses turned to panic as volley after deafening volley was fired at the village without end.
“Lindestic!” Adridge called out ponies running by, explosions erupting all around. She laid eyes on him for only a moment then a second later an explosion threw her away, sending the dark armored mare flying through the window of a wooden building.
Weakly she pushed herself up but the building turned to splinters as it erupted from above causing it to fall were as she bursted through the wall opposite from the window saving herself from the ensuing rubble. 
She cried out in pain as she hid behind a wall ears ringing, senses dulling. Her dark armor had been torn open though she was largely unhurt only burned. Her cape had left in in the blast and her sword remained under a mound of rubble. 
She looked down the street seeing ponies run for their lives as the cobble stones paths erupted and arrows flew in from all directions sticking themselves within the fearful as they retreated killing them dead. She saw two pounding the dirt in retreat only to see one get struck by an arrow. His friend, carrying and loyal as he was, stopped his retreat and began to help him up. Only then did they disappear from the face of Carridian. Wiped away by an explosion that happened upon them.
Reality struck Adridge and all those years of heroism vanished in a blink of an eye. ‘Not like this, not like this, notlikethis, notlikethisnotlikethisnotlikethins.’ She turned to run explosions ringing out, here hearing still nullified. She began crying in fear like a little filly lost in the snow. The way she was so many years ago. She wanted her Torial; mother her father. She wanted to be found and never lost again. But she wasn’t up on that mountain in a fierce blizzard she was on the battlefield, injured and in retreat. She turned a corner just as a heavy metal jacket sailed passed and she tripped over a body of the fallen.
She would have climbed back up and left the injured all together if he hadn't grabbed her and brought her attention back to a grim realization. It was Lindestic. His hide charged by the blast of an explosion, his body sticked with two arrows but still lively. “Help me,” he said. Though she couldn’t hear she could still see the words crawl from his lips.
‘Oh no no nonono.’ The volleys never ceased but she picked him up regardless; weak as she was. Placing him over her back, hind legs on one side fore legs on the other; this smaller mare carrying a stallion. ‘Hold on please.’ she thought as she carried him through a household that was defended by a larger building separating it from the their line of fire.
It was obliterated and the front room soon after just as she ran out the back door struggling under the pegasi's weight. The explosions then ceased but the arrows kept flying. She was almost gone, like the rest who already left all together. It was only them. She ran down the final street one of many that led away from this horrid place and just as she thought her life was assured Lindestic cried out. He was struck by another arrow. “No,” she cried still carrying, him refusing to give in. “Please stop.”
He lined another shot; this unicorn in his excellent accuracy at such a far distance. He let loose on his longbow striking the dark armored, smaller mare in her hind leg causing her to slacken her pace hobbling. Still never giving up. He let loose another time. This arrow striking her in the shoulder missing her friend altogether. She slowed even more but continued to carry on, never dropping, very abandoning her friend. This time however, he summoned a dark arrow. Its properties allowing for a piercing shot. One for the both of them as the duo slowly now made their way to self assured safety.
He pulled back, lined his shot up. One arrow, two targets. Suddenly just as he was about to let lose a final time a blade struck out blocking his shot. “Let them go,” came the cowled Unicorn. “The word will spread. A story will be made of this day. Oh the things they will say. How infamous this day.”
The unicorn lowered his bow letting the dark arrow vanish. He looked to the mining village and like all the rest, for once, took notice. Buildings lay strewn almost no part was without damage far by the border and near in the plaza. Corpses littered the ground but scarce were whole bodies as more parts could be found lying all about. Legs, hooves, entrails. Blood everywhere. It told the story of battlefield innovation and the awe striking ferocity it held.
He was sickened and his colleagues told the same story though unsure, wavering eyes. His ears still rang as the adrenaline sapped away. Each and every warrior stuttered their beliefs for mere moments at the aftermath beheld. “Cannoniers. Move Out!” The cowled unicorn commanded.
The unicorn put up his bow, withdrew a cloth from his safekeeping. With care and gentleness he rubbed it on his face. He felt the warmth, the smell. It was comforting. The last thing he saw of the duo was the smaller mare, still hauling her battle wounded friend as they disappeared into the surrounding woods like all the others who managed to run. 
With one final blink any doubt that may have remained was suddenly wiped. He marched forward with the other Istudians falling back into rank. Hearing now returning, cannons rolling. The thunderous power... how beholding.

4.	Igneous and Navinia had finally made it back to her, ‘house.’ Formated so because it was practically a mansion but since every residence had a mansion on some degree they might have well been scaled houses. These places had active pumps no doubt powered the many underground rivers that littered littered the ground beneath, renovated by miners and piping all around. The Noriphmy capital sat at one of the more higher elevated places of Caridain though there were easily higher places all around.
Navinia seated him down near the bathroom while she grabbed a tub and filled it with water. He still held his face incase it began bleeding again and he was left to marvel at the size and structure of her household. It was definitely bigger than the Falconers keep no matter what village. Unles it was village Dargazoth. They adored Falconers and built the biggest building dedicated to them and them alone.
Aside from that hers was definitely bigger, though he did begin to wonder where all the servants and maids were. Often times it was commonplace to have a few on hoof encase there were any accidents. Maybe they were simply off today or drinking out back or in the kitchen. The place was decorated in wood despite the outside boasting marble walls and constructs. It looked very classy. The interior was very undecorated, mostly bare with only furniture to lighten the mood and not a single thing plastered in or on the wall itself. There were a few pieces of art, molded and two dimensional, but again the place was mostly bare.
“Here we are,” Navinia said as she pushed a tub out from the bathroom, it being full of water. She position it just in front of Igneous who didn’t speak fearing he might spoil the mood. She was simply too nice for him and he already felt he didn’t belong, but she insisted so it was only to his greatest respects to follow. “Here, come here,” she said taking his head in her hooves. gently lowering his face down into the water.
It was warm and felt good against his fur and raw injured snout. She helped ease his hoof away from the wound exposing it. She first washed his hoof off inside the tub turning the water into a crimson red the more time she took remedied it. She then pulled a rag attached to her hoof by velcro and gently began washing the wound itself, making sure not to reopen it again as she softly stroked his muzzle, back and forth slowly and real easy. ( :X no innuendos)
It was comforting, she was very gentle with him not that he couldn’t endure worse or hasn’t for that matter. For once he was finally able to relax to get away from all the trouble presented to him. All the nobles, all the political arguments, Istudious and the plans set for them, just seemed to vanish when he was with her and she didn’t even know the immense burden she was lifting. Only that she was being kind.
He found himself slowly closing his eyes and leaning into her as she worked half resting letting himself be taken back. A few more minutes later and she put down the bloodied rag tearing it away from the velcro and said, “Okay Igneous your all good now.” He came to and looked cross eyed at his nose and the swollen gash. He raised a hoof which immediately got batted away by Navinia. “Don’t touch it,” she kindly pleaded. “You’ll make it worse.”
He snickered. “I'm sure you know best,” he said with a nod of his head. “Should I help you with the tube?”
“That's very nice of you,” she said as he began to push it back where she had taken it from. She followed him into the bathroom making sure he knew how to handle the removable tube. Seeing as he did, he placed it back over its place holder and began draining it. She then said, “Would you like any food, it's beginning to be very well near supper.”
Shaking his wet hoof off he said, “It wouldn’t be in bad company would it?”
“With you, never,” she said disappearing around the corner leaving him to follow her. She led him down a hall and into the kitchen. This room had big window panes imprinted in the roof giving the area bountiful amounts of natural lighting without the need for candles or glowing stalagmites. The floor in this particular area was marble tile with slightly grey tile every other square.
Navinia began digging through cupboards leaving on the other side of the table while he asked, “Don’t you have some servant that could make something for you?”
Lifting her head up to show a jar of peaches lodged in her mouth she said, “eeh?(Me?)” She dispensed it to the table and as she leaned on her shoulder fiddling with the lid she said, “No, not me. I let all my servants go when my dad left.”
Igneous walked over to the table stealing away the peaches only to unlid the jar himself with his magical help. “Where did he go?” he asked setting it back on the table only to see her disappear down again.
“I don’t know,” she said. Igneous jumped when he heard a thud and a quick little flurry of her wings as she came back up again with a jar of strawberries with a hoof rubbing her head. “I know he is hard at work though. Every month I receive his payment allowing me to live in this place but I never do anything with the money.” Igneous opened the strawberry jar for her. “I make the deposit and buy what I need and the rest waits for him. I don’t know when he will come back.”
She disappeared again but this I’m came up with a bag of a few apples and set them by the other fruits. Igneous could guess this was going to be some sort of fruit salad. He didn’t mind. “What was his profession.”
“Dad?” she said. “He held a position in the royal council in the presence of Kohligan. However when Kohligan left many years ago he also left the council to sort out all the nations assorted problems.” She grabbed a bowl and a knife and cutting board and tapped the table politely signaling Igneous to cut the fruits for her, assuming he knew how of course.
‘Of course I know how,’ he thought taking the kitchen knife in his grasp. He placed a strawberry on cutting edge. As Navinia glanced away he instinctively stabbed the fruit with the tip.
She continued to talk not taking notice and quickly he tossed the ruined fruit aside while she wasn’t looking and resumed cutting. Normally this time. “Now I don’t know how these council meetings work but my father often came home a bit distressed. Always saying how those ‘criminals,’ wanted everything for themselves. He spoke a lot of corruption while Kohligan was away and on the few nights he brought one of his friends over, some of which were also on the council, they would often times storm out hours later while he screamed at them for being so selfish and only wanting more.
“I never really knew what he was on about. His friends and many of his colleagues really liked me for who I am. Small, cute and creative…” it wasn’t too much of a lie but she definitely wasn’t small anymore as she stood about as tall as Igneous. But the creative aspect was never quite revealed to him yet. “They often times smiled at me when father took me to the council sometimes, often times leaving me to sit outside in the halls to the room were they argued.”
“A while passed and while I slept my father must've left. I was older now able to cope with his absence as his friends would often stop by. They helped me situate myself in while he was gone showing me how to live independently. They were so quick to act, they said my father was a great stallion and all but they never told me where he went only that he would come back, always quick to leave soon after.” She paused, perked her ears up and said, “Are you done cutting?”
Igneous snap back to reality as he realized she had stopped talking. “Yes Navinia,” he answered. Just like he had promised the cutting board was lined with cut strawberries, apples and peaches, minus the one slaughtered strawberry of course.
“Perfect,” she excitedly said clopping her hooves together. She dumped them into the bowl letting Igneous carry it out to the patio that overlooked the sprawling capital city of Noriphmy. Plenty of ponies still out and about in the miles of expansive structures and roads.
They ate together sitting opposite from a round stone table with solid stone chairs with a pillow in the seated area. They talked a bit more but Igneous mostly directed it on Navinia who was always happy to speak about herself, never really boasting but really just giving her thoughts and opinions different subjects, likes, dislikes and other assorted things.
“So how about that scare?” she said pointing a hoof at his still slightly swollen muzzle.
He carefully touched it with his hoof and said, “I’ll have to get it purged.”
She looked a little disappointed. “All three streaks? Not even one to remember this day?” He seemed to consider it for a moment. “I think it look good on you. A little dangerous even,” she said with a blush.
“I don’t savor the sight of scares,” he said.
“Complicated backstory?”
“...” he awed. “Yea. Complicated backstory.”
She smiled and giggled at herself. “It's okay. You don't need to explain yourself to me. I already like you for who you are.”
That really struck Igneous in a way he hadn't felt before. Had he really never heard these words of kindness of all his years of being a falconer. He had lived by the sword for so long under an oath of his own, traveling, helping? Had he never taken the time to stop in between bandit strongholds and beastly battles to simply socialize? “And,” he began unevenly. “What is it you like about me?”
“Well,” she tilted her head coyly as running a hoof through her mane as she purposely avoided his gaze. “Your nice, handsome, strong, you listen very well, your polite and can cut fruit.”
“Well, the fruit part, was... easy…” he said failing to come up with an equally complimenting remark. ‘What would Joel had said if he was here,’ he thought. Than immediately thought it was a terrible idea, shunning himself for even thinking such a vulgar thing.
She giggled again. “You're not exactly articulate are you?” His ears flattened in embarrassment. “I didn’t list speech as your defining quality,” she cheered. “You don’t need to be all swooning, you can just keep being you Igneous.”
‘Swooning?’ he thought. ‘Over her? Wait… She can tell?’ Joel always said he would be his wingman, but now more than ever he wished he was here this very moment to push Igneous on retracting any previous stance he may have held to him all togeather.
“But,” she began. “What is it, Exactly you like about me?”
His heart really began to beat now. This was it. He was getting into a relationship with this mare. This was scarier than that one time this one beast wouldn’t die even with half his face missing and mandibles torn. He really wish he had his trusty shield to block any potential hoof in mouth scenarios batting them away with ease and resilience. He swallowed. Hard. That only seemed to amuse Navinia with a smile spreading across her lips. He began to nervously tap his hoof and he said, “I-you. What I like about you… Well, you're very p-pretty.” He was being honest but for some reason the affection just hurt too much. His poor little heart. It just wanted to explode and thrust him into cardiac arrest. 
What would the doctors note behold? Awe stricken by love. ‘Shit,’ he thought resorting to Joel’s typical speech. He would have preferred, taff, a common swear in the land of carridain with daft being taff’s past tense variant, but for some reason Joel’s lingo just seemed so fitting. So right. ‘Shit shit shit, what have I gotten myself into.’ Was this mortal danger? It couldn’t be. He was just complimenting the Mare. Just one compliment.
“Are. You, okay? Igneous?” Navinia said looking at him worriedly.
“Um,” He stood up, “Yea I-I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
He began to walk to entrance swaying with every step. “I-I just…” And he fell passing out. This famed Falconer brave at heart strong in mind, who slayed many a foe whether it be beast or bandit. Only now this blade wielding battlefield tyrant was now overcome by the most elusive monstrous colossal of them all. Love. The horror. The Hooorrooor!!!
Time passed and Igneous awoke in the middle of the night in the darkened room. He rubbed his eyes and slowly pushed himself up to see himself lying in a sizable bed cozily covered by a thick bed sheet keeping him very warm. His windows were barred, but it wasn’t anything sinister. It just suited the architecture. He tried standing but his hoof slipped and he fell out of bed with a loud thud and a yelp pulling all the covers down with him.
Quickly he pulled himself up to his hooves and took stock. He was missing his brazen collar but he soon discovered it on the nightstand nearby along with a note. Taking them both he opened it and it read in neat writing, ‘I’m sorry for what I did. I didn’t mean to be so direct. I hope your not mad and that we can continue seeing each other in the days to come. Navinia.’ Immediately Joel jumped into his head and cheered, ‘At Least You Weren’t Friend Zoned!!!’
He shook his head at himself. Could he really not handle just one night, just one Mare. No, he had to apologize for His misconduct. He couldn’t allow this. So deciding to go make things right so he put his collar up and began making his way out the door to his room which must have been the guest bedroom.
He opened it up to a different part of the household he hadn't seen before. There was a hallway that orbited a square room with a wide open canvas high over head letting the night light spill in from above. He advanced outwards for a moment then jumped away at the sight of a sudden attacker.
He looked back and found it was only a suit of armor mounted on a podium. On its back sat a sword sheathed in its scabbard. It wasn’t an attacker and calming down Igneous proceded. Silently he walked into the living space and looked down both ends, left and right. Down to the right was the area he did recognise but down the left was a new area and with doors lining the hallway. Mabie her bedroom was down there and perhaps she was still awake.
So he led himself down the hallway with ears swiveling listening for activity and then he heard it. Fourth door on the left. Carefully he opened it making sure not to creak the door and when he looked inside he found to his dismay that she was fast asleep. Each breath slowly giving rise to her bedsheets. She was at peace. Igneous couldn’t disturb her like this so he closed the door and coming to his final conclusion thought it would be best to leave and come back tomorrow on better circumstances.
He was making his way for the front door when he realized he left his collar laying on the floor in the guest bedroom, so he made his way back without an utterance of a sound as nimble as he was, and when he entered sure enough it was laying on the ground for him.
He picked it up and immediately his facial scar stung like fire out of nowhere. He held his face wincing in pain but as fast at it had come it had left. A slight breeze blew in from the windows, and with it a rose petal. It drifted about landing on Igneouses nose. He shook it off were as it got blown around by the wind again around and around the room until it drifted out of the creek in his door ever so slightly agape. His heart began to beat and a terrible feeling begin to burn within him.
Slowly, quietly he guided himself to the door, wind still blowing crickets seizing their chirping as if they knew what was to come. Pearing outside the faintest of cracks he looked into the living area. For a moment he saw nothing, then like spotting a well hidden white rabbit in snow a dark shadow popped out at him.
A shadowy figure slowly made its way into the living space, sure footed with each step that never made a noise. It stopped coming to the center and it looked to Igneouses room he was hiding. He held his breath. In the moonlight pouring in from above a blade flashed its magnificents for Igneous to gaze upon.
The figure then proceeded towards his room and Igneous back away from the door examining his options. Windows barred no other exits and not a wardrobe to hide in. he didn’t trust his summoning to summon one of his four swords. Two of which were held at the vaults of Noriphmy, the other two sanctioned by the underground rivers of the Hexer fortress.
He could not engage without risking life. So coming to his decision he swiftly pressed his body against the wall to where the door would open. And the door did open, very, very slowly. Igneous did his best to hug the woodwork as tight as he could and out of the corner of his eye he saw the blade protruded ever so slightly from the door itself. It lasted only seconds but the moment seemed to dragon on forever.
His heart beated, he began to sweat but just as he thought all was lost the blade retracted and the door was fell closed away again.
He waited a few moments more before he dare risk his hide peering outwards again. When he did he saw that the shadow was now heading towards the hallway Navinia’s door was in. He opened the first on the left. A simple closet. He opened the first on the right. He was an assassin. Was he here for Navinia? Why?
‘Navinia!!!’ he thought in alarm and immediately he took to his dark magic. ‘A simple sword,’ he told himself as he began to focus. ‘It's just one simple sword. Please, please, please don't fail me now.’
A black mist appeared and began solidifying at the hilt, the source being the binding stone ingraven within. He struggled and tensed and slowly ever so slowly the blade began taking its full form. ‘The hardship of summoning is summoning it to begin with,’ and old voice said. ‘After that the summoned item eats up almost no dark magic there on after only needing the slightest of dark stimulation to keep its life aloft.’
‘Almost.’ The black tinted magic snaked upward the tip began to form, ‘Almost, Almost!” it faltered ever so slightly and with a sigh it vanished altogether. A storm erupted in Igneouses head. ‘One Sword! One Fucking Sword!!!’ again taking to Joel speech. He quickly composed himself, peared outside the door and found the assassin pearing in the third door on the left. ‘Two more.’ the thought rang in his head. Only two more doors before he happens upon the sleeping mare.
He needed a weapon, he couldn’t summon one in time, He Needed A Weapon! ‘The Sword!’ he thought. The sword on the decorative armor. It was his only option. Slowly opening the door he looked back to see him opening the final door before he reached Navinia.
Looking up to the armor he saw the blade sitting in its scabbard and with his magical grip he reached for it best he could. He felt the blade in in his grip and slowly began to pull. To his relief it made no noise, the scabbard must have been fur lined.
Looking down the hall again he saw the assassin walk into Navinias room. ‘No!’ he thought. He didn’t want to give his position away prematurely so he rushed silently as possible to her doorway.
The assassin hadn’t noticed most likely being overtaken by the thrill of the kill seeing his target in sight, right in front of him, sleeping, so very unaware. He came to the doorway sword pointed upward for mobility in these tight quarters. It was a long sword, boasting a feet over Igneouses blade but he didn’t care. He was well practiced.
He peered around the corner, the cowled assassin half way across the room checking every step halting every breath. Igneous closed his eyes, breathed in and breathed out. His heart threatened to burst out of his chest and without a minute more he lunged.
The attacker was too fast he heard the halting of breath right before the engagement. Like a crowed suddenly going silent you don't realize the soft ambience it until it's gone. Igneouses long sword pulverised the wooden panel leaving the attacker to counter attack were as Igneous shifted his body stabbed upward parrying the blade off.
The longsword being too heavy and unbound to him left him wide open so he charged the assassin before he could react, pinning him against his chest with great speed and strength ramming him though the wooden walls of Navinias room stright into the next.
The assassin fell to the ground and Igneous hoofed him in the face making connection with raw skin feeling the crushing blow reverberate up his body as the attacker regretfully dropped his blade in the fore room. Igneous reeled back again but the assassin expected it recovering quickly locking his hoof in a vice grip with his as he brought it down missing just to the left. He raised his right hoof up and hooked Igneous over the left side of his neck pushing him rightwards sending him rolling off of the attacker. The assassin took his opportunity to roll up onto his hooves summoning a short sword with far greater speed than Igneous.
Navinia shrieked in horror and ran for the exit safe from harm. “Get the Royal Guard!” Igneous yelled.
“Oh the royal guard won’t get here in time,” said the cowled assassin.
Igneous raised his long sword struggling with it in his grip as he held it over his head pointed at the attacker. “Why were you trying to kill her? Who Are You!?”
He paused for a moment glanced at the door Navinia ran out of and when he looked to Igneous he ducked out of the way of another attack and moments later was put through the second wall into the living room after trying the same method of counter attack. However this time he rolled away from the plumbing and caught Igneous’es blade just as it scratched at his back.
“Why Are You Trying to Kill Her!” he shouted again.
With swords locked in combat one slip would mean the spill of blood or the collision of crossguards. He yelled, “Navinia is Not My Target!” Igneous faltered at the statement allowing the assassin to redirect the blade away headbutting the Falconer with two words. “You are.”
Igneous recovered arked the blade which got thrown skywards in the parry that ensued. He lashed out with a hoof catching the assassin in the jaw throwing his counter attack off and he stabbed with the longsword downwards catching the darken cotton on the side peacing it and the hide beneath only grazing him but still drawing blood. He rotated the blade on its axis intended for a neckline cut only to be stopped by a round dark summoned target shield.
The assassin rotated then rotated it pinning Ignoeus’es weapon to the ground and lashed out with multiple strikes. Igneous himself bounded backwards grabbing the helm and leggings of the armor as he faced his attacker. “Impressive sword play,” the assassin charmed as he began to circle around Igneous.
“Likewise,” he said refusing to break eye contact as he fiddled with the leggings and helm.
“Contriving a rash plan?”
Equipping the leggings on his four hooves, strapping them into place he said, “essentially.”
“Stalling?”
“Perhaps.” He equipped the helm and tore down the scabbard that lay across the back of the armored doll. “I hope you know I am a well experienced Smith. Former falconer at that too.”
He seemed to beam at himself. “I never been set to hit a falconer before, and you have lasted longer than any. Let me set the record…” he stared him down a little longer.
Igneous poised himself for the engagement. ‘Hycrome tipped, dark summon sword.’ His armor wouldn’t suffice but that was the plan.
A moment more and the assassin leapt out at Igneous arking his sword rightwards and as he did Igneous reared up, angled the scabbard against his left foreleg and bit his tongue. The sword pierced through both scared and armor with ease only becoming imbedded only when it penetrated his skin and pierced his bone. He cried out, ripping both the scabbard and his hoof tearing away the sword from the assassins magical grip.
The assassin became surprised, and in his awe Igneous threw his one good hoof hitting him in the head. He charged him on three legs knocking him to the ground a third time and removing his helm he began savagely beating the assassin on the head with the metal plating not letting up even when the attacker lost the will to defend himself.
He only stopped when Navinia pulled him away frantically telling him to stop and he did only now the floor was covered in blood. Both his and the assassin together as Igneouses leg bled profusely, the assassin laying there struggling to raise even a hoof.
“Igneous You're Bleeding!” she cried as she laid him against one of the pillars that held the roof aloft.
He chuckled raising his good hoof caressing her cheek and saying, “it's nothing new Navinia.” But it was much more serious than his cat scratch.
She ran off again this time into her bedroom where as she quickly came out again holding the entire bed sheet in her mouth dragging it behind her. She kicked the longsword toward Igneous and he took it in his magical grip and began to quickly make short work of the fabric treating strip after strip and applying it to his wound. “T-th-the royal guard?” he said weakly.
“There coming Igneous darling they're coming just stay with me please,” she said tearing strips with her mouth by pressing down on the fabric and pulling. If it wasn’t for the double layers of protection he surely would have been delimbed. It was great that he was able to put so much forethought into such a rash decision.
He had successfully padded his wound over, and over and over but the blood kept on seeping through littering the floor. Looking to the assassin whose mouth was gaped, probably broken Igneous faintly uttered with his loss of blood, “Who sent you?”
The assassin tilted his head, eyes looking dead and he muttered only one word. “Council.”
But what pressed Igneous on more was how he knew Navinia’s name.

5.	Clenching his eyes shut as tight as he could, Igneous tried to drown out the sounds of battle. The screams, the cries the agony and all the time Quariomy stood atop the hill gazing downwards at the scene. He so desperately wanted to break away from his cords to do something but he was bound as was his word.
His bodie chilled with every consecutive boom that rang out miles north of him. It was faster than anything he had ever heard. One after the other often times overlapping and never ceasing for a time before breaking back into beats one after the other. And then just like that the explosions all those miles away subsided.
The sounds of war below also began to die down and Igneous found his ties being cut down and he fell to the ground weak. “On your hooves,” commanded a warrior with sword pointed down as he was backed up by three comrades.
He did as he was told, slowly stood and hobbled in the direction their swords pointed them. Quariomy.
“Kneel!” and before he could obey both of his fore legs were knocked down by a rod of iron. He silently cried out but muffled it in the presence of Quariomy who stood above unfazed as she gazed below. “My prince is keeping well?” she asked.
‘Rhetorical.’ he resisted the urge to speak. Then he was hit over the head by the same rod of iron and commanded to answer. “No My Princes!”
She breathed in deeply. She looked saden for some reason Igneous couldn’t quite grasp. “It's okay my Prince. You’ll be keeping well I promise. The day is almost over.” Just then general Horace walked up to her and bowed. “Battle report,” she ordered.
“Yes my Princes. Victory is ours and we have captured what warriors remain.”
Again she took a deep breath and said, “Ask them their age. Line them up accordingly.”
“Yes my Princess,” he bowed again and left shouting orders left and right to do as commanded.
“Come,” she said beckoning to Igneous. “Follow me my prince. Please come.”
“On Your Hooves!” warned the warrior no doubt reeling back the rod as he said so.
Igneous did as commanded sparing himself the affliction of another blow, and obediently he said, “yes my Princess.” Years of Royal academy when he was a colt. They still held strong all these years later.
She walked him to the edge of the township were, just like she ordered, were lined the remaining surviving resistance of Noriphmy’s front and only line. They had been forced to bow on all fours. Some shaking others hid behind a facade of stern courage. “Please sit my Prince,” she said gesturing to the ground.
“Y-yes, m-my, Princess.” He did as told sitting on his haunches feeling the dribble of blood fall from the side of his face from the inflicted blow applied to his head as the blood mixed and ran down his mane.
She walked up to the warrior overlooking the lineup and she asked, “Is this all of them?”
“Yes my Princes this is all of them just as you requested.”
“In age?”
“Precisely in order according to the information given.”
She politely nodded her head to him and walked her way to the front of the line so that she may see them all and speak simultaneously speak clearly to all. “As of this day, Noriphmy stands and enemy. You all, every last one of you, our our enemies.” She began to walk down on side. “Should be executed rightly. The suffering. It's only justice nothing more, hardly less.” Coming to the very end, the younger side she said, “It won’t have to be this way. There is an alternative. No pony this moment must die any longer. Have hear you all your alternative.” She began to walk down the line to the other end. “Renounce your Nationality, your beliefs and your loyalty to Noriphmy. You will be spared the blade and thus granted life. Longer than that which would have been given otherwise. To refuse… is to be executed.” She looked to the warriors as she stopped in the middle of the line. “Start with the elders.”
They nodded and two at a time went to the first elder standing tall and said, “Citizen of Noriphmy. Renounce your nationality, beliefs, and loyalty to Noriphmy. Do so with haste, our patients is wearing thin.”
The eldest one looked up and said, “I refuse.”
“Have you chosen your fate?” Asked the same warrior.
Igneous could feel the rod of iron rest on his head. “No outburst forth longer,” the warrior commanded him.
The eldest again looked up boldness in his eyes and said, “I have.”
“So beit.” he nodded to the warrior standing behind and in one swift motion he angled his sword down and reeled back slitting the throat of the eldest letting him fall limp to the ground slowly dying, slowly suffocating. They immediately walked to the next eldest and said, “Citizen of Noriphmy. Renounce your nationality, beliefs and loyalty to Noriphmy.” The warrior that slit the elders throat then raised his sword above his dying victim. “Do so with haste. Our patients…” With ferocity he brought the blade down ending his life in the blink of an eye. “...Is wearing thin,” he finished.
He jolted his head sideways and said, “never. I have chosen my fate. Let it come to pass.”
“So beit.” 
And his life too, was ended in two, swift, motions. On and on they went one after the other each one never yielding, one after the other accepting their fate. It was magnificently brutal as each younger pony jittered in place some crying some completely breaking but none renounced as commanded. Igneous couldn’t bear the sight but the warrior had commanded him to look, to listen, to witness his citizens fall before Istudious.
Finally the warriors came to the last two. The warrior stood before the second and said, “Citizen...”
“KILL ME!!!”
“So beit.”
And another one fell before Istudious.
Finally the youngest one was stood staring at the ground. His dead companions lying side by side just next to him. The warrior raised his sword and like all the others before, brought it crashing down upon the dying fighter, solidifying his fate. The warriors moved to the last youngest fighter. The youngest fighter... being only a colt. His age margining that of the former by years. How could he have stayed behind he didn’t deserve this he was too young. To fragile yet here he was before Istudious challenged to represent his Nation like all the others before.
The warrior stood before him tall and strong, glistening armor and sharpened sword. He lowered his head and this time he spoke the same phrase again only this time he said it with a fatherly tone. “Citizen. Of Noriphmy. Please. Head my word. Renounce your nationality. Your beliefs. Your loyalty. The loyalty held to your beloved, glorious nation. Your young. So scared, so alone. To see your village slaughtered in battle. Brothers in arms, family, friends. All dead. Never to return. Citizen of Norphmy. Renounce your Nationality to Norphmy. Pledge yourself to Istudious. A new family. You won’t be lost. You will never know fear. Citizen. Head my word and renounce your nationality. You need not die today. You need not die this moment, this. Precious, precious moment. Your word is ours,” he said rising tall and strong again. “How do you pledge.”
The colts chin began to tremble, “I-I…”
Igneous, suffering, weeping with tears streaming down his face mixing with the blood that also fell through his mane whispered three words over and over. “Don’t say it. Please, please don’t say it.”
“How do you pledge,” Came the warrior again. A blood riddled sword angling itself below the colts neck as his executor waited for the order. “Your word dear colt.”
He was crying refusing to look anywhere but away. Away from the fallen. Away from the world. Away from his fate. “I~~ I-I,” his words fell to a silent pleading whimper.
“Your word?” The blade now pressing firmly against the colts neck. He didn’t answer. “Final notice.” The colt closed his eyes. The warrior nodded.
“RENOUNCE YOUR NATIONALITY!!!” Igneous cried snapping the tension like a twig as he was now being beaten senseless by his captors.
“Young Colt Your Word!” the warrior shouted.
He finally opened his eyes looking to Igneous then looking to the dead, the battlefield and his village. Overcome with emotion he fell to the ground crying and wailing my Nationality, “I renounce my Nationality.” He continued to cry fallen by those who had fallen dead bleeding into the ground lifeless, while he cried into the ground still very much alive. “I renounce, I renounce, I renounce.”
The warrior smiled withdrawing a sword tapping him on the shoulder as he layed their quivering on the ground. “Tis a good choice young colt. I endow citizenship of Istudious upon thee. Welcome to our glorious army.”
The warriors on Igneous didn’t let up as they took turns one after the other whacking Igneous in the head, bodie and all around in quick rapid succession as he wince and writhed on the ground failing to protect himself.
Quariomy flicked her head in his directions and the beating suddenly ceased. However Igneous didn’t stop moaning and flinching believing he was still being abused by his captors. Quariomy walked up to the crying colt and said, “Young colt. What is your name?” She said her words with genuine care as if she were a mother. “Please. Don’t cry. Tell me what is your name?”
Sniveling head buried in his hooves he said with tear ridden eyes, “Ferethal, its Ferethal.”
“Ferethal? Please Ferethal,” she said, “Stand now. Stand strong.” 
He did stand head still pointed downwards in shame still weeping, never subsiding. She guided him to Igneous laying on the ground moaning in pain as he tried in vain to hide himself from this colt. The warrior delivered another blow to Igneous’es exposed underbelly causing Igneous to lose breath and become winded as he rolled on the ground.
“Look at him,” she commanded Ferethal. He did as told only when she wrapped a hoof around his head bidding his chin to look up. “Prince of Noriphmy. Look how weak he is, how sad. Couldn’t bring himself to protect his nation for the life of him. Being so rash so uncaring. Gaze Ferethal,” she said again. “The architect of your suffering.”
Igneous tried to retort. “No,” he sputtered. “I-its not tr-”
He became uppercutted by the iron stick shutting him up for good.
Ferethal flinched at the sight and Quariomy eased him saying, “Don’t be afraid. He can’t cause you suffering now. However you seek vengeance on some degree. Will you take it?” A warrior walked up to Quariomy and exchanged a new item in their magical grip. She then held it for Ferethal and Igneous to see. “Take your revenge. Show him your fury.”
Igneous eyes widen when he saw what Quariomy had handed to the young colt. A cat o’ nine tails. A variation of a wip only this one held on each end serrated metal. Igneouses breath deepened and he found himself being forced to lay on his stomach with his back completely exposed.
“Go on Ferethal.” She urged with a warrior pushing him forward as he held the whip in his magical grip. “Feel the rage, the hatred. It was brought on by him. He is the reason your friends and family lay dead today.” Igneouses head was pinned flat to the ground as Ferethal looked him in the eyes, Igneous being unable to see breathing heavily awaiting the inevitable.
Ferethal gripped the whip tighter. The screams the cries they rang in his head. Tears streamed from his face and with a sudden surge of anger he reeled back and swung the whip down embedding every end into the back of Igneous.
Igneous let out a pain ridden muffled cry as his whole body was pinned down by multiple warriors. Ferethal yanked back pulling pits of skin out blood flying everywhere. A warrior held out a sword for him to halt, they used light magic stopping the severe bleeding. The sword raised the again were as Igneous was inflicted with another wrath of pain as the jagged ends of metal stuck in his back.
The warrior put the same sword down healed him and raised it again. Over and over the same process repeated. Lash after lash less and less skin on his back Igneous feeling every moment as he bawled underneath the restraints of his captors and just as he begun to think he would be whipped to death at the mercy of ash said, “that is all Ferethal. Let down your weapon.”
Ferethal fell back and begun to cry even more so than before.
General Horace marched up to the warriors holding down Igneous and said, “Get him up and back to the medical wagon. I will not have our prince die today.”
With every jolt Igneous let out a weak cry of pain as they but his fore hooves over one another's shoulders dragging his hind legs as they walked him to the back of the lines.
The warriors stood in line. A thousand in all. Not a single casualty, their armor held strong, weapons reliable. Now a thousand and one. The one still crying as he said, “I hate him. I hate him.”
“I know dearest Ferethal,” Quariomy said gently stroking his back as she held him against her armor. “I know. Let us go, the capital of Noriphmy awaits. There be no resistance, I can see it now.” She smiled. “Our story has already been told.”